Robotics Researchers Track Autonomous Underground Mining Vehicles
December 14, 2017 | Queensland University of TechnologyEstimated reading time: 1 minute
QUT robotics researchers have developed new technology to equip underground mining vehicles to navigate autonomously through dust, camera blur and bad lighting.
Using mathematics and biologically-inspired algorithms, the technology uses vehicle-mounted cameras to track the location of the vehicle in underground tunnels to within metres.
The research has been led by a team from the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision at QUT, including Professor Michael Milford in collaboration with Catepillar, Mining3 and the Queensland Government.
- Autonomous vehicles are increasingly used in the underground mining industry
- Machinery needs to navigate through harsh environment and maze of tunnels
- Mine operators are using costly sensing or infrastructure modifications
- New positioning tech increases efficiency and safety underground
Professor Milford said autonomous vehicles operating in underground mines relied on expensive sensing or infrastructure modifications.
"This is stage one of the project," he said. "It's commercially important to be able to track the location of all your mobile assets in an underground mine, especially if you can do it cheaply without needing to install extra infrastructure or use expensive laser sensing."
"We have developed a positioning system that uses cameras rather than lasers, based on more than a decade of research in biologically-inspired navigation technology."
The tough terrain means Global Positioning Systems cannot be used and Wireless Sensor Networks are less reliable due to interference from the rock mass and lack of access points.
Professor Milford said the conditions at mine sites were difficult.
"It wasn't all plain sailing for our experiments as the research systems did not work that well when first tested in mine site environments," he said.
"We had to add some additional intelligence to the technology, to deal with the challenging environment.
"We developed a system which could intelligently evaluate the usefulness of the images coming in from the camera - and disregard ones that were blurry, dusty, or that were washed out from incoming vehicle lights."
The researchers have completed two field trips to Australian mine sites and have a third trip later this month.
"This new field trip will enable us to start testing the second stage of the project, a more precise positioning technology," he said.
"If you can track the vehicle's position to within a few centimetres then you can use that technology to run the vehicle autonomously."
Suggested Items
IDTechEx Report on Quantum Technology: Nano-scale Physics for Massive Market Impact
04/30/2024 | PRNewswireThe quantum technology market leverages nano-scale physics to create revolutionary new devices for computing, sensing, and communications. Across the industry, quantum technology offers a paradigm shift in performance compared with incumbent solutions.
TSMC Certifies Ansys Multiphysics Platforms, Enabling Next-Gen AI and HPC Chips
04/30/2024 | PRNewswireAnsys announced the certification of its power integrity platforms for TSMC's N2 technology full production release. Both Ansys RedHawk-SC and Ansys Totem are certified for power integrity signoff on the N2 process, delivering significant speed and power advantages for high performance computing, mobile chips, and 3D-IC designs.
Koh Young Extends Invitation to the 2024 IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference
04/30/2024 | Koh YoungKoh Young, the industry leader in True3D measurement-based inspection solutions, invites you to join us at the at the 2024 IEEE Electronic Components and Technology Conference from May 28-31, 2024, in Denver, Colorado at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.
Samsung Electronics Begins Industry’s First Mass Production of 9th-Gen V-NAND
04/29/2024 | Samsung ElectronicsSamsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass production for its one-terabit (Tb) triple-level cell (TLC) 9th-generation vertical NAND (V-NAND), solidifying its leadership in the NAND flash market.
TSMC Celebrates 30th North America Technology Symposium
04/29/2024 | TSMCTSMC unveiled its newest semiconductor process, advanced packaging, and 3D IC technologies for powering the next generation of AI innovations with silicon leadership at the Company’s 2024 North America Technology Symposium.