AutoDESPATCH: GPS based Mine Production Monitoring System General System Acrchitecure [3] Mobile Equipment The mobile equipment being monitored in this system are of FOUR types viz. Rear Dumper, Excavator, Drill Machine & Fuel Tanker / Stations The operation of the Excavator is very important as it is responsible for taking out the overburden from the mines, which opens the way for digging of the coal. It has very little movement while in operation. The trucks are used to dump the overburden to the dump site. They travel over long distances. On Board Processing Unit (OBPU) OBPU is the heart of Field Electronics mounted in the HEMM. The architecture of OBPU is based on Intel’s Embedded Controller and is developed to achieve the objective of Single Board Computer (SBC). The OBPU collects the data from onboard sensors, GPS receiver, GTS, EMS / PMS / DEI (as the case may be with the particular HEMM) and transmits via a Radio Network to AutoDESPATCH Control Room and vice versa. Graphical Touch Screen (GTS) The GTS is the logical choice in situations where operator interaction is required. All screens are soft configurable. This allows for user defined menu structures, ability to use icons instead of words and the ability to touch the screen to make a selection, making training of operators quick and the use of the product intuitive. Though integrated into AutoDESPATCH, the GTS can even be used to access information not directly relevant to AutoDESPATCH. Following are some of the areas of usage of the GTS:
 Fig.1. AutoDESPATCH Typical Field Electronics on HEMMs The GTS provides equipment operators with the ability to interact with the system. Via this terminal they login, manually enter reasons for stoppages, assign themselves, request information from the base and are sent information unsolicited from the base. The OBPU provides all the drivers for communications with on board electronic subsystems, and provide the capability for communications with the base via a radio. The GPS unit provides the equipment with knowledge of where it is. The position of each equipment is broadcast periodically and this is the mechanism via which the base and other mobile equipment are notified of its location. The Radio provides the communication backbone for the site. The Payload System typically found on board modern trucks provides information of the quantity of material being filled onto a truck. Engine management systems allow AutoDESPATCH to record parameters of interest to production and maintenance. Thus engine run hours and standby hours may be got from these systems. Vital signs monitoring is also possible using the OBPU. By utilising advanced reporting mechanisms provided by the OBPU (report on delta change, upper limit, etc. instead of the traditional polled methodology) bandwidth requirements may be kept to a minimum. In many situations no engine management systems exist. Transducers or other methods may then be used to get certain data. For example a digital input off the oil pressure switch can provide the mechanism to get engine hours. The neutral switch may be used to get engine idling hours. Proximity switches may be used to get the body up input of automating the dump cycle (if it does not already exist). Even the GPS provides the system with valuable information of whether the truck is moving or stopped. All of this is made possible because of the wide interfacing capability of the OBPU. The following section gives additional details on the data gathering and information capability of AutoDESPATCH with respect to various categories of equipment. All the information presented is indicative and can be varied to suit the site’s requirements. |