QLD Mining and Energy Bulletin
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/50246
INDUSTRY In this issue we speak with Paul McRoberts, Industry Solution Manager-Initiatives South Pacifi c, Rockwell Automation. How is the successful development and deployment of automation technology allowing surface and underground mining to be carried out more effi ciently? Advances in automation technology are driving the increased effi ciency of mining. The development of smart technologies that enable remote automation and robotics to be available for mining applications is central to driving productivity and effi ciency gain. Automation is the way forward for mining operations. Fully automated robotic mining encapsulates mines with smart drills for both production and material identification. These drills have the capacity for precise automatic, remote controlled movement and positioning. Trucks that have automated movement and advanced management systems are now commonplace in Australian mines. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly being tasked to produce unmanned equipment to meet demand as more sites realise the productivity benefi ts of an automated and integrated mining environment. Driverless haulage trucks are being developed for open pit mines. Technologies such as GPS systems, wireless communication and object avoidance sensors enable these trucks to either drive themselves or be driven by an operator at a computer panel away from the mine site. Computer systems that provide information about the velocity and position of the vehicle can prevent accidents and increase the lifetime of the machine. Underground mines are benefi ting from more sensitive gas detection sensor technology and improved battery operated power supplies allowing for improved safety and effi ciency. Intelligent software developments continue to improve safety and productivity for mine sites by removing workers from hazardous environments. How is the Australian mining industry benefi ting from advancements in remote automation and robotics? The isolated geographical locations in combination with the harshness of mining environments in Australia make remote [8]8 QLD Mining and Energy Bulletin Summer 2011/12 "The development of smart technologies that enable remote automation and robotics to be available for mining applications is central to driving productivity and effi ciency gain." automation and unmanned machinery an attractive option for mining companies. Robotics is transforming mining around the world and Australia is leading the drive for innovations to boost productivity and effi ciency. Mining companies are investing signifi cant resources into the development of this technology. A mine site involves the coordination of a number of processes such as drilling, blasting and transporting material through to crushing, grinding, processing and transporting production output. 'Smart devices' for automation generally contain an embedded processor, sensors, logic and communications parameters. By using sensors to provide data required to control mining and processing operations, remote automation is able to provide increased productivity and effi ciency while reducing costly downtime of a mine. As available resources are becoming continually more diffi cult to access due to location and harsh environments, automation and robotics can help to provide streamlined processes for extracting ore, while reducing the exposure of workers to health risks. New sensing technologies such as GPS, radar and laser systems being incorporated into robotics will have an increasing impact on the safety, predictability, precision and effi ciency of mining. What technological challenges will mines face in the future in their desire to achieve total 'artifi cial intelligence'? While we have come a long way, there is still a need for more innovation to achieve artifi cial intelligence. One of the most signifi cant challenges faced by the mining industry today is the growing list of legislation and safety requirements that have to be addressed. Technology is advancing at such a rate that protocols and legislation are struggling to keep up. Computer technology is another challenge faced by mines of the future in particular, whether the speed of computer processing supports the analysis of vast amounts of data. A remote mine operation requires large amounts of data for collection and analysis to be transferred through a reliable and secure network. There is room for improvement in the speed at which computers are able to process and integrate information from multiple sensors. In addition to increased computer power, new algorithms for signal processing, perception and control are being actively developed to help increase the safety, precision and efficiency of mining. The development of mining machinery displaying 'artificial intelligence' is the ultimate goal. Much research is focused on developing intelligent systems that are integrated into machinery that can adapt to environmental conditions, evolve to overcome challenges and self-heal to prevent downtime. How have advancements in data processing technologies complemented today's automation systems? Recent advances in data processing technology provide for the analysis of information from individual sensors and the integration of information from a variety of different sensors. Intelligent software development allows computers to interpret the data in ways that can alter parameters of machinery during the mining operation. This improves productivity of a mining operation by reducing downtime and maintenance requirements. For the mining industry, features such as embedded diagnostics, communications, calibrations and control activities are typically performed in a programmable logic controller (PLC) or other distributed control system. The use of software agents in automation allows for the design of more flexible and smarter control architectures. This can be achieved by using an agent communication layer (ACL) on top of communication networks INDUSTRY Q&A