Combining teleoperation with vehicle

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 87, No. 981, 1994

G.R. Baiden, Inco Limited, Copper Cliff, Ontario

This paper discusses the application ofLoad-Haul-Dump (LHD) machine teleoperation in combination with a guidance system for single operator control ofmultiple IJIDs. A system accomplishingthese goals has been tested at Copper Cliff North Mine of Inco Limited. This  development uses a high-speed, high-capacity production network to teleoperate an LHD during loading and dumping by using 3D video and radio remote control. Following loading, the operator dispatches the LHD using an automatic guidance system to traverse the drifts to the orepass. Remote dumping is done at the orepass and then the machine returns to repeat the procedure. This has signifcant productivity gains and improvements in sq/ety. Productivity is improved because operators are involved only in the loading and dumping part ofthe process. This frees the operators to utilize their time more effectively, loading or dumping a particular machine, while other machines with guidance systems continue to work travelling and/or automatically dumping ore in the orepasses. Safety is improved as the operator is located on a remotecontrol station. Automatic dumping will be incorporated as a future development.

Mots Clés: Automation, Robotics, Vehicle guidance, Inco Limited, Teleoperation.