Mobile Haulage Steering Using Scan Comparison for Precise Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile haulage arrangements for conveying fragmented material in mining shafts face challenges in reliable and cost-effective navigation and movement, particularly in underground mining sites, where intermittent material clearing systems lead to inefficiencies and reduced mining machine utilization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an operation arrangement with sensors for data exchange and processing between transport units, allowing for real-time steering and navigation corrections by comparing scan results from multiple sensors positioned at corresponding travel positions, enabling autonomous and precise path-following capabilities within the mining shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are deployed at each transport unit for scanning and comparison, then navigation reliability and positioning precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile haulage arrangement is divided into multiple transport units, each equipped with its own sensors and operation units. This segmentation allows independent scanning and positioning at each unit, improving overall navigation reliability through distributed sensing while enabling modular complexity management where each unit handles only its local scanning tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by comparing scan results from multiple sensors at corresponding travel positions across different transport units. This feedback mechanism allows real-time detection of position deviations and automatic correction, significantly improving navigation reliability. The feedback loop processes data from at least two transport units to verify positional accuracy and maintain precise alignment.
2Productivity
If continuous material conveying is implemented through multiple transport units, then productivity increases, but system complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile haulage arrangement implements continuous material conveying by coordinating multiple transport units that operate simultaneously along the conveying path. Each unit processes material continuously without interruption, eliminating the intermittent clearing operations of traditional systems. The coordinated movement of multiple units ensures uninterrupted material flow from loading to discharge points, maximizing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each transport unit is equipped with its own operation unit and sensors, enabling autonomous operation and self-positioning. The units independently scan their environments, determine their positions, and adjust their movements without requiring centralized control for each individual unit. This self-service capability reduces operational complexity while maintaining continuous conveying capability across the entire system.
3Measurement precision
If scan results from multiple transport units are compared at corresponding positions, then positioning precision is improved, but data processing requirements and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning actions at predetermined positions along the conveying path. Each transport unit scans its environment at specific locations before reaching the comparison point, allowing advance data collection and processing. This preliminary action enables the system to prepare position data in advance, facilitating accurate comparison at corresponding positions without overwhelming real-time processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of the physical environment through sensor scans at each transport unit. These digital representations (scan results) are then compared across multiple units to verify positioning accuracy. By working with copied data rather than directly manipulating physical positions, the system achieves high measurement precision while managing data processing complexity through information-based verification rather than physical measurement coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an operation arrangement and a method for operating a mobile haulage arrangement for continuously conveying fragmented material in a conveying direction. The operation arrangement comprises a first and a second operation unit arranged at a first or second transport unit, respectively and adapted for exchanging, storing and processing data and for generating a steering signal for steering the first or second transport unit, respectively. The first and second operation units comprise first and second sensors to scan at least a section of the surroundings. The operation arrangement is adapted to compare second scan results from the second sensor with first scan results from the first sensor, with the second scan results being obtained at a travel position of the second transport unit corresponding to a travel position of the first transport unit at which the first scan results were obtained.