Safer Mining Automation with Industrial PCs

According to the National Mining Association, total U.S. mining fatalities are at the lowest point in the last decade. Much of this is attributed to the increased adoption of mining automation through industrial PCs. Mine sites leverage strict confinement to create a highly controllable environment that have allowed full- or semi-autonomous equipment to operate essentially incident-free.

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Automating the Connected Mine

Versatile industrial PCs operating within the distributed control system (DCS) consolidate workloads to streamline operations, develop efficiencies and reduce the hardware footprint at the rugged environment. Mining automation with industrial PCs integrated at facilities, equipment and vehicles removes operators from hazardous or mundane duties, instead developing a highly-skilled crew through safe, rewarding tasks. With safety as a top concern, shifting mining operations to more efficient automation helps keep mining operators out of harm's way and in safe underground control rooms.

Mining Automation DCS

Fanless & Cable-less

Wide Temperature

Shock And Vibration
Resistance

Water Resistance

Power Protection

Computing At the Edge

Powerful computing has brought the ancient labor of mining into the Industry 4.0 fold. Through mining automation with industrial PCs, purpose-built computers support the DCS by aggregating and processing data close to the source and subordinate devices for safer, more efficient operations. Ruggedized hardware with reinforced features allows reliable integration in volatile, hazardous settings.

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Connectivity For the Edge

Seamless connectivity supplies rapid, reliable communication to mining automation through industrial PCs hosting a rich combination of physical and wireless connection technologies. Reinforced physical I/O connections join legacy and leading-edge equipment to data processing and control hardware, streamlining enterprise DCS integration. Wireless technologies enable smooth data sharing between devices and workstations on the DCS. Strong connectivity supports Remote Operating Systems (ROS) that keep mine operators out of treacherous areas, ensuring a top-level overview for strict safety standards.

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Inference Analysis And Machine Learning

Inference analysis lends powerful parallel compute capabilities to complex data processing across numerous layers of mining operations. Inference analysis accelerates mining automation with industrial PCs processing vast data inputs to unearth fresh efficiencies, yield greater accuracy and deliver a higher ROI than standard computing allows. Localized inferencing and real-time computing depend on a significant amount of data collection for machine learning models. These algorithmic models can provide more automation, productivity and operational efficiency in extremely dangerous mining environments. Machine intelligence can help provide better insights and decision-making in highly reliable site prospecting, materials classification, resource management and systems autonomy processes at every mining stage.

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Site Surveillance

Rugged NVR computers deployed at mine sites process video data from low-power PoE cameras to recognize, record and respond to aberrations in worker behavior, mine conditions and equipment performance to alert engineers and launch appropriate actions.

Autonomous Operation

Inference analysis enhances mining automation with industrial PCs trained to understand visual data and make decisions accordingly. Letting equipment safely operate without human monitoring to carry out dangerous or mundane tasks, workers can be reallocated to higher-skilled positions.

Geospatial Assessment

Parallel compute capabilities instantly process geospatial data to create a virtual mine instrumental to the mapping, planning, construction, operation and closure of the site.

Materials Classification

Visual data is closely analyzed and processed with various location data to determine a site’s suitability and profitability for mining. Throughout mining operation and processing, computer vision accurately identifies valuable materials among gangue.

Always-On Safety Monitoring

Situational awareness systems provide crucial safety to mining automation with industrial PCs constantly aggregating data pertaining to mine structural integrity, atmospheric conditions and equipment states.

Personnel Tracking

Computer systems closely monitor the location of workers to ensure safe passage and avoidance of hazardous areas. Personnel tracking systems can also help identify when a worker needs emergency assistance, allowing help to quickly locate and intervene.

Computing for the Connected Mine

Prospecting / Exploration

Mining engineers rely heavily on geologic investigations gathering statistical and survey information to intelligently predict suitable locations for mining. Robust computing solutions process a wealth of site data and samples to run survey analyses determining profitability and feasibility for mining.

Mine-Site Design / Planning

Once the site has been chosen, mining engineers set to designing the right mine for the job. Mine planning applications aggregate site data to devise safe, efficient and environmentally responsible mining operations at the elected site.

Construction

Access roads, facility buildings, worker lodgings and other various infrastructure need to be built to support mining operations. Rugged computers built to perform in harsh conditions integrated into vehicles and machinery ensure intelligent control and reliable connectivity serving the project’s distributed control system (DCS).

Production

With preparation completed, the work of drilling, excavating, hauling and processing can begin. Virtually every production function in the connected mine can be completed via AI-driven computer automation to deliver greater efficiency and safety. Mines can operate for more than a decade, and versatile, intelligent hardware can optimize processes as time goes on.

Closure / Reclamation

Long before the mining project is determined to be completed, engineers begin the process of responsibly restoring the land values. Data logged and processed at the distributed control system (DCS) help ensure plans are drafted at the onset and continually refined to ensure the environmental impact of the operation is within sustainable levels.

HMI for Effective Engagement

Durable, intuitive HMI components provide DCS operators interactive system display and control tools. Industrial touch panel PCs deployed at mining system control points, ROS locations and monitoring stations enable natural interaction and rich visual representation of mine site and operational data. With strong connectivity and powerful processing, HMIs allow operators to control or automate equipment from safe locations, while ruggedized features brace HMIs for environments with extreme, rigorous conditions.

Why Upgrade to Industrial HMIs?
Industrial Touch Displays and Panels

Remote Operation

Sending connected unmanned machines into hazardous areas allows operators to safety conduct virtually any mining function from a safe location. Connected HMI systems enable nimble interaction to closely monitor the operating environment and equipment state.

Mining Navigation

Vibrant visual representation of mine outlays and equipment location data offer an informative, realtime glimpse into positioning and trajectory information. Precise navigation visuals permit greater asset management while tracking operator movements.

Control Systems

HMIs lend hands-on control to DCS systems and components through responsive touch interaction. HMIs can directly manipulate system equipment or provide a versatile go-between for dispatched edge computers.