Motion Capture System for Underground Drill Boom Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In underground mining environments, accurately positioning and orienting drill booms for blasthole drilling is challenging due to the reliance on operator judgment without optical or visual guidance, leading to inconsistent toe placement and significant bootleg formation, which is costly and time-consuming to rectify.
Innovation Solution
A motion capture system using at least two light targets mounted on the drill machine and positioned according to a predetermined geometry, captured by low-power cameras, processes image data to calculate 3D locations and provide real-time feedback on position and motion values to the operator, enhancing accuracy and reducing bootleg formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional jumbo drills rely on operator judgment without optical or visual guidance, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of toe placement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time visual feedback by capturing images of light targets mounted on the drill boom with cameras, processing these images to determine boom position and orientation, and displaying this information to the operator. This closed-loop feedback system enables the operator to see the actual boom positioning rather than relying solely on judgment, thereby improving toe placement accuracy without requiring complex automated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light targets as intermediary objects mounted on the drill boom. These targets serve as visual mediators between the physical boom position and the operator's perception, making the boom's position and orientation directly observable through camera images. This intermediary approach provides precise visual information without requiring complex sensors or direct measurement systems on the boom itself.
2Manufacturing precision
If automated drilling machines with cables, gyros and accelerometers are used, then the manufacturing precision of toe placement improves, but the reliability of the system deteriorates due to vulnerability to moisture, temperature and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems (cables, gyros, accelerometers) with an optical system consisting of cameras and light targets. This substitution eliminates the mechanical components that are vulnerable to moisture, temperature, and vibration while maintaining the ability to measure boom position and orientation. The optical system is inherently more resistant to these environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy or visual representation of the drill boom's position by mounting light targets on the boom and capturing their images with cameras. This optical copying approach provides accurate position information without requiring physical mechanical sensors attached to the moving boom components, thereby improving reliability in harsh environments.
3Productivity
If conventional jumbo drills without visual guidance are used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity deteriorates due to inconsistent toe placement and bootleg formation
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback to the operator through camera images showing the position of light targets mounted on the drill boom. This feedback enables the operator to make informed adjustments to achieve accurate toe placement, reducing bootleg formation and improving drilling efficiency. The operator maintains control while benefiting from enhanced visual information.
4Measurement precision
If multiple cameras and light targets are mounted on the drill machine, then the measurement precision of boom position improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple light targets (such as LEDs or reflective markers) as intermediary objects mounted on the drill boom. These targets are captured by cameras to determine boom position and orientation. The light targets themselves are simple, passive components that do not add significant complexity, yet they enable precise optical measurement of the boom's position in three-dimensional space.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for motion capture of a subject, suitable for use in an underground mining environment.