Within the INESI-project (Increasing Efficiency and Safety Improvement in Underground Mining Transportation Routes) long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) cameras are used for detecting persons on underground belt conveyors or within hazardous areas e.g. in front of crusher or skip vessels by the project partners KOMAG and the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT). The test case for evaluating the performance of thermal imaging regarding these applications is the Polish Sobieski underground coal mine operated by Tauron mining company. By the development of thermal image processing algorithms, an automated detection of persons and classification of different objects was achieved. This may allow implementing smart services for person detection on underground belt conveyors as well as material characterization between coal, rock and disturbing objects on belt conveyors.
As indoor positioning provides particular challenges due to the unavailability of GPS signals, various systems such as ultra-wideband (UWB), radio frequency identification (RFID), ultrasound, and wireless local area network (WLAN) have been proposed in recent years. Some of these technologies are currently being marketed and some are still being developed. UWB technology allows for higher precision while also reducing power consumption. Hence, the underground automation and localization systems can use this technology for more accuracy and robustness. This article discusses new robust UWB modules used for underground positioning and collision avoidance with regard to human safety in underground mining operations.
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