COLLISION AVOIDANCE
South Africa continues to lead the way in Level 9 CAS implementation ( this shows a machine with Strata Worldwide ' s HazardAvert installed ) but the rest of the world is now catching up
enabling broad change with EMESRT having a complementary technical level focus .
Beyond these groups , important test work and establishment of suitable tests and test procedures for CAS has been done by others such as the Vehicle Dynamics Group ( VDG ), a research unit at the University of Pretoria ’ s Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering ; most recently it pioneered an underground procedure which tests the performance of collision-avoidance systems ( CAS ) in an effort to improve the safety of workers on mines by reducing unwanted interaction between vehicles and pedestrians . Another actor in the CAS evolution story is mining3 which has been establishing a test methodology using a Cat 777 haul truck , a light vehicle and other objects on a proving ground in Pinjarra Hills , Queensland to provide knowledge to end users on what sort of testing they should require and what sort of results they should look for and what those results mean – all aiming to assist end users with the ability to reduce risk associated with acquiring and integrating these technologies into their operations .
In the US , several mining stakeholders have requested a forum from NIOSH to exchange information – with near-term emphasis on two areas : autonomous mobile equipment safety and collision avoidance systems . As a result NIOSH has formed the Mine Automation and Emerging Technologies Health and Safety Partnership . It builds on the work done by the previous Proximity Detection Partnership which addressed issues about proximity warning and collision
prevention systems in underground coal mines . The new group covers hard rock and coal mining and provides a forum for review , evaluation and discussion of specific technical and scientific questions , such as those posed in the MSHA Request for Information on Safety Improvement Technologies for Mobile Equipment at Surface Mines .
In a now regular review , IM took the opportunity to talk to some of the industry ’ s leading developers of CAS technology – in this case Newtrax , Schauenburg Systems and Booyco on underground application , and Hexagon and Wabtec on surface applications – with some additional input from others – all playing slightly different roles but all with systems available and in use with Level 9 functionality .
Awareness , advice and intervention
With more than 4,000 systems currently deployed , Schauenburg Systems ’ Collision Management System ( CMS ) solutions are designed , manufactured and supported locally in
South Africa . It says “ this enables Schauenburg to provide exceptional service , accompanied with rapid support to clients , opposed to foreignmanufactured systems . Schauenburg Systems CMS products adhere to the stringent guidelines as stipulated by the Minerals Council of South Africa to achieve Level 9 compliance . Our product portfolio ranges from multi-technology tag-based solutions to Artificial Intelligent ( AI ) camera systems which assist with mitigating the risks associated with Trackless Mining Machines ( TMMs ), pedestrians and hazardous objects within an operational environment .”
Schauenburg Systems has already Invested upwards of ZAR30million in development of its Level 9 PDS solution which involves an engineering department consisting of approximately 15 engineers . It has been part of the ISO21815 discussions since its inception through EMESRT and still provides reviews and insight with the rest of the industry . “ We now have our PDS systems on the ISO21815 protocol and have done extensive interface testing with some of the vehicle OEMs and we are involved with projects to showcase on-site single machine and multiple machine tests which include stakeholders such as vehicle OEMs , third-party interface suppliers , major mining clients , University of Pretoria and Schauenburg .” Its system is called the SCAS II Collision Awareness System and uses dual band RF technology .
In February 2021 , it announced that it has successfully installed its most advanced Proximity Detection System at one of South Africa ’ s most prominent PGM producers , Booysendal Mine , belonging to Northam Platinum and located on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex . The shallow , mechanised , room and pillar Booysendal UG2 North mine is located near the town of Mashishing ( formerly Lydenburg ).
Gawie Croeser , Head of Strategic Business Unit at Schauenburg Systems gave IM some unique insight into how mines are currently using CAS underground in South Africa and the
Schauenburg Systems recently installed its most advanced PDS technology at Northam ’ s Booysendal platinum mine
54 International Mining | JANUARY 2022