Method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators, method for programming a firing plan and corresponding firing system.

Abstract

A method for determining the location of a detonator (101) in a wireless network of electronic detonators (10), the method comprising: a step of transmitting a signal by the detonator, called the transmitting detonator; a step of receiving the signal by at least one other detonator in the network, called the receiving detonator; and a step of calculating a distance between the transmitting detonator and the receiving detonator as a function of the signal power received by the receiving detonator. A method for programming a firing plan, comprising steps of a method for determining the location of a detonator. A system (1) configured to implement a method for determining the location of a detonator. Using a signal power attenuation to identify the location of a detonator (101). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators, method for programming a firing plan and corresponding firing system.

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators.

[0002] It also relates to a method for programming a firing plan.

[0003] It also relates to a firing system comprising a wireless network of electronic detonators.

[0004] A detonator here includes, for example, a charge, in particular a pyrotechnic charge, and a communication module, for example a two-way communication module.

[0005] A wireless network of electronic detonators herein means a set of detonators that are not connected by electrical wires to each other or to an external unit, such as for example a network concentrator.

[0006] A network concentrator refers to an electronic device configured to coordinate radio communications between different communication modules. It manages a protocol.

[0007] The invention finds its application in the field of pyrotechnic initiation, in any sector where a network of at least one electronic detonator must traditionally be implemented.

[0008] Typical examples of use relate to mining, quarrying, seismic exploration, or the building and public works sector.

[0009] When installing a firing system on a site or work site, each electronic detonator in a network of at least one electronic detonator is placed in a location prepared to receive it.

[0010] Such a location is, for example, a hole drilled, in the ground or in a wall in particular.

[0011] In practice, an operator positions an electronic detonator in the location provided for this purpose.

[0012] In order to trigger a network of several electronic detonators, it is useful to know the position of each electronic detonator. Knowing the position of each detonator is primarily necessary to program a firing delay associated with at least one of the detonators and thus establish the firing sequence.

[0013] To determine the position of electronic detonators at a work site, the geographic coordinates of each electronic detonator can be collected, for example, by a GPS receiver. A GPS receiver can be installed on the detonators and / or on a programming tool, such as a programming console. If it is installed on the programming tool, the position of the operator holding the programming tool is considered valid, i.e., it is considered to be the position of the detonator in question. However, the presence of a GPS receiver associated with each electronic detonator and / or the programming tool for collecting the geographic coordinates of electronic detonators can result in significant costs and / or require considerable time for the operator to be present in the field to carry out this data collection.

[0014] Moreover, absolute positioning is not required for firing operations; a relative topology of the detonators is often sufficient.

[0015] Moreover, such a GPS-based firing system is difficult to use, or even cannot be used, on certain terrains, such as underground terrains.

[0016] The proper functioning of this type of firing system is also dependent on the availability (reception) of the satellites dedicated to the geolocation system used.

[0017] The present invention aims to resolve at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages, leading in addition to other advantages.

[0018] To this end, a method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators is proposed, according to a first aspect, the method comprising: - A step of emitting a signal by the detonator, called the transmitting detonator; - A signal reception step by at least one other detonator in the network, called a receiving detonator, different from the transmitting detonator; - A step of calculating a distance between the emitting detonator and the receiving detonator as a function of the power of the signal that was received by the receiving detonator.

[0019] Thus, a detonator, for example at least one communication module of the detonator, whether on the surface or in a hole, communicates with at least one other detonator of the network, for example with a communication module of the other detonator.

[0020] The signal emitted by the emitting detonator includes, for example, an electromagnetic signal, for example a light signal or a radio signal, or a mechanical signal, or an acoustic signal, such as, for example, an ultrasonic signal.

[0021] This can be a light signal if all the detonators in the assembly have a surface module.

[0022] The step of calculating a distance between the emitting detonator and the receiving detonator may include a step of estimating the distance, or even estimating an order of magnitude of the distance between the emitting detonator and the receiving detonator.

[0023] Depending on the situation, a precise determination of the distance, i.e. a determination to the nearest centimeter, may be superfluous.

[0024] The implementation of such a process thus makes it possible to avoid an operator needing to move among the detonators of the network to identify their position, and thus enable their programming.

[0025] Indeed, it is generally different operators who install a detonator and program it.

[0026] Thanks to such a process, once the detonator is deployed and in place, and at least one detonator has a module on the surface or at the bottom of the hole, the programming can then be transparent to an operator who has to carry it out.

[0027] Indeed, a transmitting detonator sends out a signal, such as a radio wave. At least one other detonator, i.e. a receiving detonator, receives the signal.

[0028] Depending on the power of the signal received by the receiving detonator, it is then possible to determine the distance between the emitting detonator and the receiving detonator.

[0029] The signal attenuation is thus used to determine the distances of each detonator relative to other detonators in the network.

[0030] For example, the steps of the process are implemented for each of the detonators in the wireless detonator network.

[0031] That is to say, each of the detonators in the network happens to be, in turn, a receiving detonator.

[0032] Thus, the same detonator can be both emitter and receiver, depending on a state of the process.

[0033] By triangulation, it is possible to know the position of each detonator in relation to neighboring detonators in the detonator network.

[0034] For example, the network includes at least three detonators, of which two detonators are transmitting detonators, which are configured to each emit a signal, and one detonator, distinct from the two transmitting detonators, is a receiving detonator, which is configured to receive the signal emitted by each of the transmitting detonators.

[0035] In one example of implementation, the method includes a step of comparing the received signal with a theoretical signal.

[0036] In a particular implementation example, the theoretical signal, with which the received signal is compared, is the emitted signal.

[0037] For example, the method may include a step of comparing at least one value of the power of the signal received by the receiving detonator with a theoretical power value of the signal emitted by the emitting detonator.

[0038] For example, knowing a power loss rate per meter of distance between the transmitter and the receiver in the surrounding medium (for example in dB / m (decibels per meter)), it is thus possible to determine a relative position between the transmitter and the receiver.

[0039] In one example of implementation, the signal emitted by the transmitting detonator includes an identification sequence of the transmitting detonator emitting the signal.

[0040] In particular, the signal received by the receiving detonator includes the identification sequence of the emitting detonator that emitted the signal.

[0041] Such a process also makes it possible to avoid adding a component to a detonator since each detonator is generally already configured to communicate with a network concentrator, by radio or optical signal for example.

[0042] As soon as one of the network's detonators is put into operation, it then enters the process of determining its location.

[0043] For example, the process includes, prior to the signal emission step, a step of placing each detonator of the network at a theoretical location.

[0044] For example, the method includes a step of switching on each detonator, for example at least one communication module of each detonator, for example a power-up step.

[0045] For example, the process includes a communication step between the emitting detonator and the network concentrator.

[0046] In one example of implementation of the process, the signal emitted by the transmitting detonator includes a communication signal from the transmitting detonator to the network concentrator.

[0047] For example, the communication step between the transmitting detonator and the network concentrator includes the step of the transmitting detonator emitting a signal.

[0048] In one example of implementation, the receiving detonator captures the communication signal between the transmitting detonator and the network concentrator.

[0049] In one example of implementation, each detonator in the network also receives communications emitted between other detonators in the network and the network concentrator.

[0050] In other words, each detonator in the network captures, intercepts, the communications sent between the other detonators in the network and the network concentrator.

[0051] The signals are processed, analyzed, in a computing unit.

[0052] In one example of implementation, the computing unit is located in the receiving detonator.

[0053] In one example of implementation, the signals are processed externally; the computing unit is then located in a unit different from any detonator, called an external unit, for example in the network concentrator, or in any other electronic unit.

[0054] Such a step of determining the location of each detonator implemented externally makes it possible to avoid having additional computing power or memory in the detonator itself; all the information can be sent in a block or as it is sent to the external unit.

[0055] For example, the method may then include a step of transmitting, by the receiving detonator, at least one piece of information representative of the received signal, to the external unit.

[0056] At least one representative piece of information of the received signal may include an entirety of the received signal.

[0057] For example, the external unit can receive at least one representative piece of information from the signal received from each of the detonators in the network, and then implements the calculation step based on all the information received.

[0058] According to one example of implementation, at least one representative piece of information includes at least one value of the power of the signal received by the receiving detonator.

[0059] According to one example of implementation, at least one representative piece of information includes the identification sequence of the emitting detonator.

[0060] According to one example of implementation, the transmission step includes a substep of sending an identification sequence of the receiving detonator, for example to the external unit.

[0061] In an interesting implementation example, the external unit is the network concentrator.

[0062] For example, a localization algorithm for each of the network detonators is implemented in the receiving detonator or in the external unit, for example in the network concentrator.

[0063] Thus, for example, the comparison step can be implemented by the receiving detonator, or by the external unit.

[0064] The distance calculation step can be implemented by the receiving detonator, or by the external unit.

[0065] Each receiving detonator can transmit only the received power value associated with the transmitter identification sequence, as well as the identification sequence of the receiving detonator that transmitted this information.

[0066] Only the received signal power is useful for calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver; but the transmitter identification sequence and the receiver identification sequence are interesting for identifying a link between the transmitter and the receiver concerned among the set of transmitter-receiver pairs of the detonators in the network to be mapped, in particular if the processing is carried out in a unit external to the network, for example by the network concentrator.

[0067] For example, the process includes a step of recording, by the receiving detonator, at least one piece of information representative of the received signal.

[0068] For example, the recording is at least temporary, for example until at least one piece of information has been transmitted to the external unit.

[0069] In a particular example, at least one representative piece of information of the received signal that is recorded is the power of the received signal.

[0070] For example, the method includes a step of controlling the transmission of at least one piece of information representative of the signal received by the receiving detonator to the external unit.

[0071] Such a command step is initiated for example by the external unit.

[0072] For example, if a transmission command step is implemented, for example following a request from the external unit, the method includes the step of transmitting at least one piece of information representative of the signal received by the receiving detonator, which optionally includes the substep of sending an identification sequence of the receiving detonator.

[0073] The receiving detonator can, however, process at least one piece of information representative of the received signal itself, depending on the power of the received signal, and transmit the calculated distance value to the external unit.

[0074] For example, the receiving detonator can implement the step of calculating the distance between the emitting detonator and the receiving detonator as a function of the power of the received signal, itself, and transmit the calculated distance value to the external unit.

[0075] Optionally, the transmission of the calculated value may then be accompanied by the identification sequence of the emitting detonator, or even also by the identification sequence of the receiving detonator.

[0076] The external unit then receives, for example, information representative of the signal received for each receiver detonator of the set (i.e., each of the detonators of the set, as a receiver).

[0077] The information is thus centralized.

[0078] At least part of the calculations, or even all of the calculations, are then carried out by equipment other than the detonators.

[0079] Once the topology of the set is known, i.e. the location of each of the detonators in the detonator network, a programming operation is easily implemented, for example in a traditional way, for example manually or automatically.

[0080] A method such as described above makes it possible to know at least a relative topology of the detonators of a detonator network.

[0081] Knowing the relative topology is sufficient in some cases.

[0082] Otherwise, in order to determine an absolute topology, the method includes for example a step of identifying the absolute position of at least one first element of the firing system.

[0083] The firing system here comprises at least the detonator network, and preferably an external unit, for example at least the network concentrator, or even in addition a communication relay, and / or a firing console.

[0084] An element of the firing system is therefore, for example, one of the network detonators, or the unit external to the network, for example the network concentrator, or the communication relay, or even the firing console.

[0085] Knowing the absolute position of a single element at least allows the network topology to be anchored in a known frame of reference.

[0086] For example, the method further includes a step of identifying the absolute position of at least a second element of the firing system, the second element being different from the first element.

[0087] It is then possible to know the absolute position of the network, because the absolute position of a first element and a second element allows us to know an orientation of the network on the ground for example (rotation around an axis “z”).

[0088] Also proposed, according to another aspect, is a method for programming a firing plan, comprising: - The steps of a method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators, comprising all or part of the characteristics described above; and - A programming step for a firing delay associated with the detonator based on its location.

[0089] Also proposed, according to another aspect, is a firing system configured to implement a method for determining the location of a detonator as described above.

[0090] For example, such a firing system comprises a wireless network of electronic detonators, each detonator in the network comprising a transmitter configured to emit a signal, and at least one receiver configured to receive a signal emitted by another detonator in the network, the system being further configured to calculate a distance based on the power of a signal received by the detonator.

[0091] For example, an element of the system is configured to calculate a distance between a transmitting detonator and a receiving detonator as a function of the power of a signal received by the receiving detonator.

[0092] For example, the firing system further comprises a unit external to the detonator network.

[0093] In other words, the external unit is separate from any detonator in the network.

[0094] An element of the firing system is therefore, for example, one of the detonators of the network, or the external unit.

[0095] For example, each detonator is further configured to transmit at least one piece of information representative of the signal it has received to the external unit.

[0096] Another aspect also proposed is the use of a signal power attenuation as a function of the distance between a transmitter and a receiver to identify the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators.

[0097] For example, signal polarization and / or signal phase could nevertheless also be used to improve localization accuracy.

[0098] Such a process can thus have numerous applications, such as for example:

[0099] - Relative positioning (topology): which is a minimum that can be obtained using a process as described above, the detonators can be simply represented spatially without a scale (row / column representation). As distances are measured during the process, the topology can be scaled, and the detonators are then represented in space (map).

[0100] - Absolute positioning: if at least two elements of the system (for example a detonator, or an external unit) can provide their absolute position (e.g., GPS), the complete topology can be positioned in an absolute reference frame.

[0101] Alternatively, at least two elements of the system can each be placed at a reference location known to an operator, and the discovered topology is then also positioned in an absolute reference frame.

[0102] The invention, according to an exemplary embodiment, will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, given by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0103] [Fig.1] schematically represents an example of the implementation of a firing system;

[0104] [Fig. 2] is a block diagram illustrating a method for locating a detonator according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0105] [Fig.3] is a block diagram illustrating a method of programming a firing plan according to an implementation mode of the invention.

[0106] Identical elements represented in the aforementioned figures are identified by identical numerical references.

[0107] Fig. 1 illustrates a firing system 1 which is deployed on a terrain 2.

[0108] The firing system 1 mainly comprises a wireless network of electronic detonators 10, and at least one external unit 11.

[0109] A wireless network of electronic detonators herein means a set of electronic detonators that are not connected by wires to each other or to an external unit, such as a network concentrator.

[0110] The wireless network of detonators 10 includes at least one electronic detonator 101, and generally at least two electronic detonators 101, for example ten or even several dozen electronic detonators.

[0111] Each electronic detonator 101 of network 10 is placed in a location prepared to receive it on field 2.

[0112] Each detonator 101 includes, for example, a pyrotechnic charge 102 and a communication module 103.

[0113] In the present embodiment, the communication module 103 is connected to the load 102 by at least one electrical connection cable.

[0114] Terrain 2 here includes holes 20, at the bottom of which the charge 102 is placed.

[0115] The communication module 103 is here arranged at the outlet of hole 20, for example in surface area of ​​the field 2.

[0116] According to another embodiment, the communication module is configured to communicate through a wall; it can then, for example, be placed at the bottom of the hole, along with the charge 102. A system comprising such a detonator and a booster (i.e., an explosive amplifier) ​​can be designated a primer, as opposed to a simple detonator, since it then also includes the explosive amplifier. A simple string can be used to lower the charge 102, or possibly the primer, into the hole 20 and hold it in place.

[0117] In the present description, the communication module 103 is a radio signal communication module (which allows communication with a network concentrator for example, whether the module is on the surface or in a hole), but it could be any other type of communication, for example by any electromagnetic signal, for example a light signal, or by a mechanical signal, for example an acoustic signal, such as for example an ultrasonic signal, depending on the arrangement of the module.

[0118] The firing system 1 further comprises herein at least one computing unit.

[0119] In a particular embodiment, the calculation unit is included in the external unit 11 as shown here, i.e., separate from a detonator. It could nevertheless be integrated into a detonator.

[0120] The calculation unit of the firing system 1, when external and separate from a detonator, is for example included in the network concentrator. It could otherwise be integrated into a firing console, for example.

[0121] The network concentrator is configured to at least emit a communication signal with a detonator 101.

[0122] In the present example, the communication signal is a radio signal.

[0123] In quarries and mines, a firing sequence is necessary to control the order in which the detonators (rows of holes) are triggered. In the case of electronic initiation, it is therefore necessary to associate a delay (in milliseconds) in the firing sequence with each detonator. This is the programming operation.

[0124] The network concentrator is therefore configured to communicate with all 101 detonators.

[0125] The network concentrator, on command from a firing console, can generate a firing command train.

[0126] The network concentrator is specifically configured to associate an individual firing delay with each electronic detonator 101, based on its location. This common firing command synchronizes the firing delay countdown for all electronic detonators in the network. Upon receiving the firing command, each electronic detonator manages the countdown of its specific associated firing delay, as well as its own firing sequence.

[0127] The firing console is generally located at a distance from the network 10 and the network hub.

[0128] The firing console is specifically configured to transmit a firing order to the network concentrator.

[0129] At least for communicating with the network concentrator, each network detonator 101, and in particular here the communication module 103, includes a transmitter configured to emit a signal, and at least one receiver configured to receive a signal.

[0130] Programming is a long-term operation, which may also take place in a difficult environment (extreme temperature, presence of hazardous substances, etc.).

[0131] A programming operation for an electronic detonator consists of assigning it a delay based on its location in the field.

[0132] The programming operation is thus resolved as soon as the location of each detonator (generally identified by its unique identifier) ​​is known.

[0133] When performed manually, this operation remains tedious and prone to errors because it relies on the operator who must associate the correct delay or connect (or activate) the detonators in the correct order.

[0134] To make the programming operation more reliable and efficient, the programming equipment can be fitted with a positioning sensor (e.g., GNSS) so that the correct delay is automatically assigned based on the determined position of the detonator. This methodology still has the disadvantage of requiring an expensive sensor (differential GNSS) to achieve the necessary accuracy, with potentially long initialization times (satellite search), but above all, it still depends on an external signal (satellites) that may not be available (or sufficiently available) or may be disrupted by reflections off rock faces depending on the environment.

[0135] In order to obtain the location, at least relative, of each detonator 101 within a network 10, the present invention therefore proposes a method based on the power measurement of neighboring signals, for example radio signals in the present description of a particular embodiment.

[0136] This method thus provides an autonomous solution to the localization problem. No additional external signal is required, and it does not require equipping the detonators with additional equipment. It can therefore be easily adapted to a wireless network of electronic detonators.

[0137] Figure 2 illustrates a particular implementation of the method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators according to the invention.

[0138] The process includes, for example, S100 steps as follows.

[0139] It includes for example a step S1 of placing each detonator 101 of a network 10 at a theoretical location.

[0140] It then includes, for example, a step S10 for switching on each detonator 101.

[0141] Then it includes for example a step S21 of emission of a communication signal by each detonator, the detonator emitting the signal then being designated emitting detonator.

[0142] For example, each detonator (more precisely its communication module) communicates with at least one neighboring detonator.

[0143] The communication signal can be a traditional communication signal, for example with a network concentrator, or an independent signal.

[0144] For example, the method includes a communication step S2 between the emitting detonator and a network concentrator, the communication step S2 comprising the step S21 of emitting a signal by the emitting detonator, the signal emitted possibly including the communication signal with the network concentrator.

[0145] Each detonator measures the strength of the signal it has received from at least one other detonator in the network. The detonator receiving the signal is then designated the receiving detonator.

[0146] For example, each receiving detonator measures or determines a "RSSI" (Received Signal Strength Indication) value, that is, a measure of the power received from a radio signal by at least one other detonator in the network. If the signal's transmission power is already known by each detonator as a receiver, then it is not necessary to transmit this value; otherwise, the communication signal can carry this information.

[0147] According to an interesting option, the method may include a distance calculation step directly in the receiving detonator; where appropriate, the calculation step uses, for example, the intensity of the received signal (RSSI measurement) and combines it with a theoretical attenuation model.

[0148] The estimated distances between detonators in the network (alternatively, some or all of the information, for example the measured information of the RSSI values) are sent to an external unit (for example, controlling the network, for example, the network concentrator) which determines the location of each detonator in the network by cross-referencing the measurements.

[0149] Well-known location resolution algorithms can be applied.

[0150] A location for each detonator is thus determined.

[0151] Locations may only be relative (network topology).

[0152] Locations can be given with a confidence index (probability).

[0153] A map of the detonator network 10 is thus available.

[0154] The external unit 11, for example the array concentrator, if placed near the array of detonators, can be used as a "neighboring element" for all the detonators 101 during the process. This makes it possible to anchor the relative topology with a reference point, in order to determine a topology considered to be absolute.

[0155] This is repeated with at least a second element in order to know the absolute positioning of the detonator network.

[0156] The process therefore also includes:

[0157] - A step S3 of receiving the signal by at least one other detonator of the network, called detonator receiver.

[0158] - A step S5 for calculating the distance between the emitting detonator and the detonator receiver depending on the power of the signal that was received by the receiver detonator.

[0159] In one example of implementation, the method may include a step S4 of transmission, by the receiving detonator, of at least one piece of information representative of the signal received by the receiving detonator, to an external unit 11, which is for example the network concentrator.

[0160] The transmission step S4 may include a substep S41 of sending a receiver detonator identification sequence to the external unit 11.

[0161] The method may also include a step S6 of identifying the absolute position of at least a first element, and preferably also of at least a second element, of a firing system which includes at least the detonator array.

[0162] Figure 3 illustrates a particular implementation method of a firing plan programming method according to the invention.

[0163] The process includes, for example, steps such as the following: - At least some of the S100 steps of a method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless electronic detonator array, for example as described in connection with [Fig.2]; and - An S101 programming step for a firing delay associated with the detonator based on its location.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for determining the location of a detonator (101) in a wireless network of electronic detonators (10), the method comprising: - A step (S21) of emitting a signal by the detonator, referred to as the transmitting detonator; - A step (S2) of communication between the transmitting detonator and a network concentrator, the step (S2) of communication between the transmitting detonator and the network concentrator comprising the step (S21) of emitting a signal by the transmitting detonator, the signal emitted by the transmitting detonator comprising a communication signal from the transmitting detonator to the network concentrator; - A step (S3) of receiving the signal by at least one other detonator in the network, referred to as the receiving detonator, the receiving detonator capturing the communication signal between the transmitting detonator and the network concentrator;- A step (S5) of calculating a distance between the emitting detonator and the receiving detonator as a function of the power of the signal that was received by the receiving detonator.;

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising a step (S6) of identifying the absolute position of at least a first element and at least a second element of a firing system (1), the firing system (1) comprising at least the detonator array (10).

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising, prior to the step of emitting a signal, a step (SI) of placing each detonator (101) of the network (10) at a theoretical location, and a step (S 10) of putting each detonator into operation.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the signal emitted by the emitting detonator includes an identification sequence of the emitting detonator emitting the signal.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the signal received by the receiving detonator includes the identification sequence of the emitting detonator that emitted the signal.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a step (S4) of transmitting, by the receiving detonator, at least one piece of information representative of the signal received by the receiving detonator, to an external unit (11).

7. Method according to claim 6, comprising a step of transmitting at least one representative piece of information of the signal received by the receiving detonator to the external unit.

8. A method according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the external unit (11) is the network concentrator.

9. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the transmission step (S4) comprises a substep (S41) of sending a receiver detonator identification sequence to the external unit (11).

10. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the external unit receives information representative of the signal received for each receiving detonator of the assembly.

11. A method for programming a firing plan, comprising: - The steps (S 100) of a method for determining the location of a detonator in a wireless network of electronic detonators according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and - A step (S 101) of programming a firing delay associated with the detonator as a function of its location.

12. Firing system (1) configured to implement a method for determining the location of a detonator (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the system (1) comprising a wireless network of electronic detonators (10), each detonator (101) of the network (10) comprising a transmitter configured to emit a signal, and at least one receiver configured to receive a signal emitted by another detonator of the network (10), the system further comprising a network concentrator, and the system further being configured to calculate a distance as a function of the power of a signal received by the detonator.

13. System (1) according to claim 12, comprising a unit external to the network (10) of detonators, and wherein each detonator (101) is further configured to transmit information representative of the signal received at the external unit (11), the external unit (11) being the network concentrator.

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