Next-generation collision awareness solution aids mine compliance

A new collision awareness (CAS) generation 3 solution is said to represent significant advances in sensing accuracy and user experience, and Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table, or EMESRT, Level 9 vehicle controls.

Implemented by mining solutions company Probe IMT across Southern Africa, the Wabtec CAS Generation 3 solution is designed to improve mining safety and help mines move closer to zero-harm goals. 

"CAS Generation 3 has been developed to provide game changing performance and user experience," says Probe IMT CEO Gert Roselt.  “CAS Generation 3 offers unique functionality and is the only system to include real-time health monitoring. Powerful intelligence delivers up to 50 times better alarm performance, compared to the market. Wabtec’s intensive production testing has ensured a lower nuisance alarms rate, meaning there is less impact on productivity.”

The solution is designed to reduce critical vehicle interaction risk through features such as smart rules and intelligence, remote monitoring, troubleshooting, 360° situational awareness, ultra-high accuracy sensing, productivity monitoring, machine data acquisition, critical vehicle interaction threat advisories, and detailed reporting and analytics. The solution offers a user-friendly, intuitive interface and is fully configurable with adaptable settings to fit site-specific requirements.

Roselt explains that recent rapid advances in technology, such as satellite positioning, light detection and ranging, or Lidar, intelligent vision systems and fatigue-detecting solutions, have all had a major impact on collision avoidance systems and the level of software that is available to mining companies. “With proper system integration and a whole-of-mine safety approach, mines can reap huge benefits from implementing high-performing solutions.” 

Level 9 CAS vehicle intervention became mandatory for both underground and surface mining in South Africa in late 2022. “Compliance with Level 9 requires sophisticated CAS systems that provide high integrity object detection, operator warning and automatic intervention, when necessary, in order to prevent an accident.  Companies that are not compliant, must submit a plan on becoming compliant. There is a strong need for future-proof solutions that can be rapidly implemented,” says Roselt.