Modular Mining Systems, Inc.

Andree Röttig

Michael W Lewis

Lucas Van Latum

William M Casson

Mario Leonel Rearte

Paulo Rogério Andrade

William Casson

A system and method for driver guidance are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a vehicle. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A device is configured to generate a plurality of outputs. A controller is connected to the position sensor and the display device. The controller is configured to access, via a wireless communications network, a database to identify a target loading location for the vehicle, determine a location and a heading of the target loading location for the vehicle, and modify at least one of the plurality of outputs of the display device based upon at least one of the location and the heading of the target loading location.

Driver guidance for guided maneuvering

A system and method for determining a path to a target destination are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a haul truck. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the haul truck. A distributed objects database stores information describing target destinations within a mining environment and performance characteristics of the haul truck. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, retrieve a performance characteristic of the haul truck from the distributed objects database, and calculate a first path to the target destination using the performance characteristic of the haul truck. A user interface is connected to the navigation aid. The user interface is configured to display the first path for an operator of the haul truck.

Target destination selection for a mining vehicle

A system and method for target destination selection for a mining vehicle are present. A position sensor is mounted to a haul truck. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the haul truck. A distributed objects database stores information describing hazards, boundaries and target destinations within a mining environment. A navigation aid is connected to the position sensor. The navigation aid is configured to access the distributed objects database to identify a plurality of potential target destinations for the haul truck using the position of the haul truck, identify at least one attribute of the haul truck, and filter the plurality of potential target destinations using the at least one attribute to generate a filtered list of target destinations. A user interface is configured to display the filtered list of target destinations for selection by an operator of the haul truck.

A system and method for guided navigation of a mining vehicle are presented. A position sensor is mounted to a haul truck. The position sensor is configured to identify a position of the haul truck. A navigation aid is configured to identify a target destination for the haul truck, calculate a path including the target destination, and use the position sensor to monitor a progress of the haul truck along the path. A user interface is configured to display at least a portion of the path to an operator of the haul truck.

Guided navigation of a mining vehicle

A navigation device and a method for navigation are disclosed. A display is provided and a processor is connected to the display. The processor is configured to communicate with a database. The database stores information describing a plurality of objects in a mining environment. The processor is configured to identify a heavy equipment in the database, and identify a loading envelope for the heavy equipment. The loading envelope is at least partially determined by a location of the heavy equipment. The processor is configured to display the loading envelope on the display.

Guided maneuvering of a mining vehicle to a target destination

A system and method for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment are described. The system includes a central application that has a dynamic roadmap definition module adapted to at least allow a user to arbitrarily define features in a geographical information systems database and import overhead imaging data corresponding to a geographical area in which said features are defined. The central application includes a remote position and attitude reception module adapted to at least receive data concerning the position of at least one remote vehicle, a transceiver module adapted for exchanging data with at least one remote vehicle; and a logging and tracking module adapted for at least logging said position of at least one remote vehicle over time. The system also has a remote application; and a communications link adapted for exchanging data between the central application and the remote application.

Method and system for GPS based navigation and hazard avoidance in a mining environment

A system and method for navigating a first heavy equipment to a target destination is provided. A location of the target destination is retrieved from a distributed objects database. The location of the target destination is at least partially determined by a position of a second heavy equipment. A position sensor identifies a current position and orientation of the first heavy equipment, and a path from the current position of the first heavy equipment to the location of the target destination is calculated. The calculated path is selected to avoid hazards. A progress of the first heavy equipment along the calculated path is monitored using the position sensor. When the first heavy equipment deviates from the calculated path, a message is outputted to an operator of at least one of the first heavy equipment and the second heavy equipment.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Andree Röttig