Thursday, March 7, 2013

Teleoperation: The Answer to Mining's Efficiency, Productivity, and Profitability

So sez Dr. Mike McWilliams.


In the introduction, Dr. Mike McWilliams: Chief, CSIRO Earth Science and Resource Engineering, notes that the....

ambitious drive for automation is aimed at solving two fundamental problems that have dogged the exploration and mining industry for decades:
  • How to remove people from hazardous and inhospitable working environments
  • How to increase efficiency, productivity and profitability in mining.

The answer?

Teleoperation, which is defined as "remote control at a distance".

As Dr. McWilliams goes on to describe, Skilled operators can teleoperate more than one machine while remaining in a quiet environment. A future miner might well work in a comfortable office in street clothes instead of underground in coveralls, steelcapped boots and a hard hat.  

And a skilled operator teleoperating multiple machines eliminates how many coveralled workers?

Related posts:
Mining robotics.  (3/7/2013)
Looking for a job in mining?  (3/2/2013)

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