Loading Vehicle Safe-Space Control During Mine Roof Dumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loading vehicles in confined spaces like mine tunnels face challenges in controlling the boom and bucket to avoid collisions with the mine roof during dumping operations due to limited visibility and space, making it difficult for operators to manage the dumping process effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method is employed to define a safe space with a safe height from the ground, identify reference points at risk of hitting the roof, detect the dumping motion, and allow vehicle motion only when these reference points are below the safe height, using sensor data and control units to manage the boom and bucket movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator manually controls the boom and bucket in limited space, then the dumping operation can be performed, but the risk of collision with the mine roof increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the position of reference points on the boom and bucket using sensors, and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit compares real-time position data with predefined safe space boundaries, and automatically restricts motion when collision risk is detected, creating a closed-loop safety system that reduces operator burden while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the operator's control inputs and the actual boom/bucket motion. It processes operator commands through safety checks against the predefined safe space, allowing legitimate operations to proceed while blocking commands that would cause collision, thus mediating between operational freedom and safety constraints
2Reliability
If the safe space is strictly enforced to prevent collision, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The safe space boundaries and reference point positions are dynamically adjusted based on the actual configuration of the boom and bucket. As the operator moves the boom and bucket within acceptable ranges, the safe space definition adapts accordingly, allowing maximum operational freedom while maintaining collision prevention. This dynamic approach prevents unnecessary motion restrictions that would occur with static safety zones
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of safe space geometry based on the current state of the loading vehicle. By calculating safe space boundaries as functions of boom angle, bucket position, and vehicle location, the system optimizes the protected volume to match actual operational needs, preventing collision while minimizing interference with legitimate dumping operations
Data Source
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AI summary
Method of protecting a loading vehicle (100) from hitting a roof (2) of a mine during a dumping operation, comprising steps of: - defining a safe space (110) having a safe height (SH) from the ground, which safe space is a collision free space for the loading vehicle during the dumping operation, - defining at least one reference point of the loading vehicle which is at risk of hitting the roof of the mine during the dumping operation, - detecting a dumping motion at a dumping place, wherein material from a bucket of the loading vehicle is removed into a dumping target, - allowing motion of the mining vehicle after the dumping motion if each defined reference point is below the safe height.