TeleRemote - It comes of age

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 91, No. 1016, 1998

D. Thomson and V. Aitken
Thomson Technology Ltd., Lively (Sudbury), Ontario

Line-of-sight radio control has received widespread acceptance for use in many mining methods because todayÕs technology offers improved economics and personnel safety. Significant advances in higher autonomy for mining machines are not currently seeing widespread use even though they offer great future potential. With autonomous capabilities being a longer-term goal, a logical sequence of advances based on TeleRemote control is proposed. Under TeleRemote control, the operator is in direct control of the machine at all times. Three levels of TeleRemote control systems are presented including line-of-sight, extended line-of-sight, and full load-haul-dump applications. Distributed control and sensing subsystems arranged in a vehicle control area network support incremental system expansion through the three levels of TeleRemote control and prepare the machine for integration of higher levels of automation as mature technology becomes available. This approach allows full exploitation of todayÕs mining automation technology with a flexible future growth path.

Mots Clés: Automation, Load Haul Dump machines, Line-of-sight radio control, Radio control, TeleRemote control, Vehicle Control Area Network