Digital Twin Monorail Hoist Control for Unmanned Mine Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional monorail hoists in coal mines require human operators, leading to safety risks due to irregular management or improper operation, and the challenging underground environment poses health hazards.
Innovation Solution
An automatic driving system for monorail hoists based on a digital twin, utilizing a data transferring system, high-speed communication link, railroad switch sensor module, positioning system module, and intelligent control system to enable unmanned operation, with ultra-wide band positioning for precise tracking and LIFI wireless communication for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If human operators are used to operate monorail hoists, then operational flexibility and decision-making capability are improved, but safety risks increase due to irregular management or improper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The monorail hoist system performs self-monitoring and self-control through embedded sensors, controllers, and communication systems. The system automatically detects its own state, reports to the control center, and executes commands without human intervention in the cab, eliminating the need for human operators while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical human operator system with an automated electronic control system. The driver's cab is removed, and control functions are transferred to an intelligent control center that communicates with the hoist through wireless communication, substituting human mechanical operation with electronic automation.
2Ease of operation
If human operators work in underground coal mine environments, then operational control is maintained, but health hazards increase due to poor roadway environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the human operator from the underground environment by removing the driver's cab and relocating control functions to a surface-based intelligent control center. This separates the control function from the harmful underground environment, eliminating health hazards while maintaining operational control.
3Ease of operation
If traditional monorail hoist systems with driver cabs are used, then direct human control is achieved, but personnel input under the mine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the human operator in the cab with an automated control system. The intelligent control center on the surface communicates wirelessly with the monorail hoist, substituting direct human control with electronic automation and eliminating the need for personnel to work underground.
4Reliability
If unmanned automatic driving system is implemented, then safety accidents are avoided and personnel input is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent control center serves multiple functions: it monitors the position and status of monorail hoists, communicates with railroad switches, coordinates transportation tasks, and manages multiple hoists simultaneously. This multi-functionality consolidates complex operations into a single centralized system, making the complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a high-speed communication link as an intermediary between the intelligent control center and the monorail hoists. This communication infrastructure enables complex data exchange and control signals to be transmitted reliably, managing the system complexity through standardized communication protocols.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables unmanned transportation, reducing personnel input, avoiding safety accidents, and ensuring efficient and precise positioning, while allowing for emergency rescue through a three-dimensional digital twin model.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a data transferring system, high-speed communication link, railroad switch sensor module, positioning system module, and intelligent control system to enable unmanned operation, with ultra-wide band positioning for precise tracking
Implementation Method 2
LIFI wireless communication for data transmission
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of mining equipment, and in particular related to an automatic driving system of a monorail hoist driven based on a digital twin and a method thereof. The system includes a railroad switch sensor module, a positioning system module, a data transferring system, an intelligent control system, a digital twin system and an automatic driving module. The railroad switch sensor module is configured to sense the connection-position state of a movable track in a monorail hoist railroad switch track. The data transferring system is configured to transmit the data on the surface and underground. The method applies the digital twin technology to the automatic driving in the monorail hoist, reduces the input of personnel in the mine, and avoids safety accidents caused by irregular management or improper operation of the driver, through the deploying of the automatic driving module for the monorail hoist.