493
has always sold and provided direct service of its machines in-house and is now able to
optimize that service at a new level. The direct service model enables the Company to be
connected directly to the mine and directly to its centers of technology around the world
without going through an intermediary or third-party dealer.
Additionally, Komatsu has been providing the mining industry with innovative technologies to enhance safety for the better part of a century. For underground mining operations,
the personal proximity detection system for Joy longwall systems provides operators with
the individualized safety features and protection they deserve. The system is connected to
a personal identification tag, worn by all personnel on the longwall face, which tracks an
employee by name and/or job function. It then transmits radio signals and uses relative RF
signal strength, as well as an accelerometer, to accurately track the operator’s position and
communicate the information over Joy’s FaceBoss control system for powered roof supports
(PRS). The radio signals transmitted by the individually identified tag are actioned by the
PRS mimic to protect workers against automated advancing shields.
4 PROGNOSTICS AND DATA ANALYTICS
4.1 Smart technologies employed to improve safety
Komatsu has been working to develop systems that will enable mine personnel to be located
away from the mining face. One such option is a Remote Management Center (RMC), an
information and control station located a distance away from the longwall system, positioning the operator in a more secure environment while still giving the operator access to critical
information, camera images and control over the key components of the operation.
Inbuilt automation of individual components of the longwall system is well-developed and
proven by technologies such as roof support automation and advanced shearer automation
(ASA), which help facilitate and allow for smooth remote operation. Still, the level of achievable remote operation is largely dependent on the site, as adverse geology and unpredictable
seams cannot always be detected during the mining process, meaning the number of manual
interventions will rise and fall from longwall to longwall. Should an operator encounter an
extreme situation, the RMC allows the operator to make manual interventions remotely
using the information and images provided.
4.2 Monitoring roof support operation and performance
With prognostics and data analytics, Komatsu is able to identify and report on roof supports
that are failing to achieve required set level of pressure after advancing. This pressure failure
could lead to a lack of support to the roof, resulting in failure of strata above and forward of the
Figure 1. Insufficient high set pressure leads to roof cavity forming.
450 r----------------,----------------.-----------------r----------------,
-c-400
~
~ 350
~
~
~ 300
§
~ 250
a.
U)
"' ~ 200
. .
ilj 150
- - - Shearer Position
--- Ave. Hi-Set Pressure
--- Ave. System Pressue
·············· Pump Unload Thres.
· ·· ·· ·· Pump Load Thres .
----- Pres. Low Thres.
has always sold and provided direct service of its machines in-house and is now able to
optimize that service at a new level. The direct service model enables the Company to be
connected directly to the mine and directly to its centers of technology around the world
without going through an intermediary or third-party dealer.
Additionally, Komatsu has been providing the mining industry with innovative technologies to enhance safety for the better part of a century. For underground mining operations,
the personal proximity detection system for Joy longwall systems provides operators with
the individualized safety features and protection they deserve. The system is connected to
a personal identification tag, worn by all personnel on the longwall face, which tracks an
employee by name and/or job function. It then transmits radio signals and uses relative RF
signal strength, as well as an accelerometer, to accurately track the operator’s position and
communicate the information over Joy’s FaceBoss control system for powered roof supports
(PRS). The radio signals transmitted by the individually identified tag are actioned by the
PRS mimic to protect workers against automated advancing shields.
4 PROGNOSTICS AND DATA ANALYTICS
4.1 Smart technologies employed to improve safety
Komatsu has been working to develop systems that will enable mine personnel to be located
away from the mining face. One such option is a Remote Management Center (RMC), an
information and control station located a distance away from the longwall system, positioning the operator in a more secure environment while still giving the operator access to critical
information, camera images and control over the key components of the operation.
Inbuilt automation of individual components of the longwall system is well-developed and
proven by technologies such as roof support automation and advanced shearer automation
(ASA), which help facilitate and allow for smooth remote operation. Still, the level of achievable remote operation is largely dependent on the site, as adverse geology and unpredictable
seams cannot always be detected during the mining process, meaning the number of manual
interventions will rise and fall from longwall to longwall. Should an operator encounter an
extreme situation, the RMC allows the operator to make manual interventions remotely
using the information and images provided.
4.2 Monitoring roof support operation and performance
With prognostics and data analytics, Komatsu is able to identify and report on roof supports
that are failing to achieve required set level of pressure after advancing. This pressure failure
could lead to a lack of support to the roof, resulting in failure of strata above and forward of the
Figure 1. Insufficient high set pressure leads to roof cavity forming.
450 r----------------,----------------.-----------------r----------------,
-c-400
~
~ 350
~
~
~ 300
§
~ 250
a.
U)
"' ~ 200
. .
ilj 150
- - - Shearer Position
--- Ave. Hi-Set Pressure
--- Ave. System Pressue
·············· Pump Unload Thres.
· ·· ·· ·· Pump Load Thres .
----- Pres. Low Thres.