AUTOMATION
Scooptram Multi Machine is designed to be
efficient, reliable and easy to use. The remote
operator station provides the operator with an
ergonomic and safe working environment
42 t truck (MT42), all being automation ready
with RCS.
In 2009 Atlas Copco released the Scooptram
Automation system, a semi-automated system
for Atlas Copco RCS loaders. The package
includes an ergonomic and easy to use
operator’s station, an RCS loader with additional
sensors, a safety system isolating the loader
from other equipment and underground
personnel and a standard wireless
communication link (802.11) to the mine
network (LAN). The loader adds features such as
tele-remote control, auto-tramming, and autodumping that increase both safety and
productivity of the load and haulage operation.
In 2011, Atlas Copco delivered a single
machine tele-remote on a Simba L6C for
Australia. As stated, Simba Multi Machine teleremote was introduced in 2012 on six Simba
WL6Cs for LKAB. The remote controlled Simbas
can then be utilised through shift changes or
blasting hours increasing the productivity per
shift. This system was profiled in detail in IM
March 2014 in the LKAB Malmberget Operation
Focus article.
Now, in 2014 Atlas Copco has released the
Scooptram Multi Machine semi-autonomous
system for multiple remote control of
underground loaders. “From one or several
control rooms one or several operators can
operate a large number of loaders. A brand new
safety system ensures the highest safety
regulations. The modular safety system design
allows a large production area to be divided in
several production zones restricting
underground personnel from the autonomous
loaders.”
00 International Mining | OCTOBER 2014
The semi-autonomous system includes TeleRemote control, Multi Machine control, AutoTram and Auto-Dump functions. This makes it
possible to avoid human exposure in unsafe
areas such as unsupported stopes, or in any
other load, haul and dump applications.
Scooptram Multi Machine is designed to be
efficient, reliable and easy to use. The remote
operator’s station provides the operator with an
ergonomic and safe working environment with
full control and support of the system.
The Scooptram Automation is built with the
RCS as a base. Sensors, antennas, network
modules, cameras, safety module and a rugged
high performance computer module are added
to the RCS vehicle.
The operator’s station includes the control
panel, a monitor, server cabinet, desk and chair.
The operator handles the vehicle and the system
with the control panel and gets visible feedback
from strategic on-board cameras and a lasersview, which is displayed at the operator’s desk
monitor. Full vehicle data information is
displayed along with remote on-line diagnostics.
With Multi Machine control the operator can
operate several loaders from one or several
operator’s stations. The system is flexible to
operate any from a single loader up a large
numbers of remote controlled loaders. How
many depends on what is possible to manage
by the operators and the cycle time of the
operator.
“The Tactical Display will give the user a good
overview of the entire system. The current status
of the machine, Area Isolation System and
infrastructure will be visible and easily
monitored by the operators, production
management, maintenance management or any
other party that could benefit from this
information. The Tactical Display will be tied to a
map of the mine, with assets like draw points
and dump points visible as well as machines
with their current location and assignment
status.”
The Area Isolation System is a highly flexible
modular system designed to safely isolate the
automation machines from the rest of the mine.
This is achieved through the use of Light
Barriers together with an Area Restriction Stop
Light and a Check In/Check Out Area. Should a
barrier be broken or breached, only the
automation machine in that production zone will
be safely shut down, allowing the remaining
automation machines to safely continue
operation in their respective automation
production zones.
Each Area Isolation System can have a total of
30 Automation Production Zones and a
maximum of 90 Barriers. Each automation
production zone can have one automated
machine, giving a total of 30 machines running
simultaneously in one Area Isolation System.
Set-up of production zones is done through
the easy to use Master Touchscreen PLC Cabinet
which allows a customer to assign any barrier to
any production zone, providing a truly flexible
system.
For every Automation Production Zone, a
Check In/Check Out Area allows one automation
machine to safely enter and exit the Automation
Production Zone. This is achieved by using a
unique key which can only be connected to one
machine at a time, ensuring safe automation
operation at all times.
A Safety Barrier consists of a Safety Box, a
Light Barrier and an Area Restriction Stop Light.
Multiple light barriers can be added to create
multiple automation production zones, or to
safely isolate a single automation production
zone. For local regulations physical barriers
might be required and could be integrated to
the safety system.
The Area Isolation System is connected
through Ethernet, connecting the production
area including one or several zones, the
operator’s station safety module and the
machine’s safety PLC. Additional to a reliable
Ethernet network 110/230 power is also
required. For the machines to operate in semiautonomous or tele-remote mode, WLAN
coverage is required throughout the Automation
work area. A communication network is
installed, normally controlled and maintained by
the mine itself. The Local Area Network (LAN)
and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) must
be compliant to the Ethernet standard IEEE
802.3 as well as the Wi-Fi standards IEEE 802.11
a, b or g. The network requires a reservation of
20 fixed IP addresses to be able to use a
dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)
server. One vehicle utilises a bandwidth of
approximately 2 Mb/s while in operation. The