UK Pigman College of Engineering researchers in the Department of Mining Engineering Zach Agioutantis (PI), Steven Schafrik (Co-I) and Joseph Sottile (Co-I) and Matt Beck (Co-I) in the Department of Chemical and Material Engineering have received a nearly $250,000 grant from the Alpha Foundation for the Improvement of Mine Safety and Health Incorporated for their project, "Automated Sensing Module for Enhancing Miner Safety."
The two-year grant is focused on developing a sensor technology that will enable a shuttle car to be loaded autonomously. This project is a collaboration between the automation efforts at the University of Kentucky, Matrix Design Group and Komatsu. Matrix Design Group designed a Mine Safety and Health Administration-approved intrinsically safe load measurement system. Komatsu has evaluated this system to track the amount of ore hauled during production on battery-powered haulers and shuttle cars. This system has not yet been adopted because of inconsistent readings due to the temperature and location of the sensor head and the mount.
ABSTRACT
Automating Sensing Module for Enhancing Miner Safety Major technology components needed for the autonomous operation of shuttle cars in United States coal mines have been demonstrated. Automation of this machine will help reduce the fatigue injuries for miners as well as keep them away from the downstream dust of the miner. Some facets of the autonomous shuttle car’s operations have not been developed sufficiently to begin deploying these automated machines. A particular activity that has not been addressed is while the shuttle car is being loaded, the operator needs to jog the conveyor belt to keep the load evenly distributed and in the car’s bed. Matrix Design Group designed an MSHA-approved I.S. Load Measurement System. Komatsu has evaluated this system to track the amount of ore hauled during production on battery-powered haulers and shuttle cars. This system has not yet been adopted because of inconsistent readings that are due to the temperature and location of the sensor head and the mount. This project will evaluate new materials to be used in the sensor head and test these designs in laboratory conditions. The new materials and tests will be used to maintain the MSHA approval status, although a modifcation may be necessary. The project will then investigate and recommend ideal locations for the sensors to be placed on shuttle cars to provide information for both autonomous operation and human operation. The successful outcome of this project will be a sensor that could be installed during manufacture or rebuild.
