Mining robotics sensors

Abstract

Underground mining robotics has not enjoyed the same technology advances as above ground mining. This paper examines sensing technologies that could enable the development of underground autonomous vehicles. Specifically, we explore a combination of threedimensional cameras (SR 4000 and XBOX Kinect) and a thermal imaging sensor (FLIR A300) in order to create 3d thermal models of narrow mining stopes. This information can be used in determining the risk of rockfall in an underground mine, which is a major causes of fatalities in underground narrow reef mining. Data are gathered and processed from multiple underground mine sources, and techniques such as surfel modeling and synthetic view generation are explored towards creating visualisations of the data that could be used by miners to monitor areas of risk in the stope. Further work will determine this potential.