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UAV Operational Challenges in Underground Mines

Public Domain


Details

  • Personal Author:
    Snyder D
  • Description:
    General challenges in large underground mines: 1. Size and limited access points - tens of miles in geographic extent, hundreds of miles of tunnels. GPS not available for initialization. 2. Limited radio communications range - UAV needs to be autonomous to explore distance beyond a few thousand feet 3. Ventilation - sudden air pressure changes, stoppings. Barometric readings cannot be used for positioning or altitude determination. 4. Equipment - large machines with magnetic signatures. Magnetometer readings may not be reliable. 5. Infrastructure - cables, supports, and other small obstructions 6. Electrical currents - electromagnetic fields, interference sources 7. Limited visual cues - large areas all look the same. Challenges unique to coal mines: 1. Rock Dust 2. Explosion Protection requirements - electronic equipment has to be designed and certified to operate in an explosive environment. Navigational aid opportunities from unexploited constraints: 1. Limited directions - at any given location the UAV generally has four or less directions to go without hitting the ribs (walls), roof, or floor. 2. Very good maps - maps are made to survey grade accuracy. Center line maps, which represent the logical navigational path for the UAV are often made. 3. Opportunities for visual and non-visual markers - identifiers could be added by mine personnel in most areas of the mine if there were a compelling reason to do so. Mine disasters - age old problem: 1. Mine disasters create the difficult decision of committing rescue teams to explore underground. 2. Having a UAV that can help minimize the risk to rescue teams could be a huge improvement in rescue team safety and rate of advance. 3. There would be limited demand for such a special purpose UAV. 4. We are hoping that the efforts of DARPA and others will someday result in a feasible and affordable solution. [Description provided by NIOSH]
  • Subjects:
  • Keywords:
  • Series:
    Mining Publications
  • Publisher:
    Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
  • Document Type:
    Text
  • Genre:
    Journal Article
  • Place as Subject:
  • CIO:
    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  • Division:
    PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
  • Topic:
    Workplace Safety & Health
  • Location:
    North America
  • Pages in Document:
    1-5
  • NIOSHTIC Number:
    nn:20053356
  • Citation:
    AUVSI Xponential 2018: All Things Unmanned. April 30 - May 3, 2018, Denver, Colorado. Arlington, VA: Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, 2018 May; :1-5
  • Contact Point Address:
    David Snyder, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh, PA
  • Email:
    fwx4@cdc.gov
  • Federal Fiscal Year:
    2018
  • Peer Reviewed:
    False
  • Source Full Name:
    AUVSI Xponential 2018: All Things Unmanned. April 30 - May 3, 2018, Denver, Colorado
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha-512:9875c323c5fac14ed88fc0425ab273928a9b7687748b7901d1f5cfd5861481a47f02991007e9920fe1277ed65d7fc26753a15d6a04cf80271b161068631c8ea0
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 1.55 MB ]
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