Tracking and monitoring system for opencast mines
First Claim
1. A tracking and monitoring system for opencast mines comprising a combination of a plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices in communication with a microprocessor based computing and storage device, said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices being programmable to operate as coordinators, routers and end devices and having resident hardware specific embedded software capable of forming a dynamic wireless network among themselves such that a first plurality of said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices are programmed as routers which are strategically placed to form an unified wireless mesh-networking infrastructure, wherein each of the programmed routers is capable of transmitting and receiving signals from one or more other routers, end devices, and one of said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices which is programmed as a coordinator, the coordinator capable of receiving and transmitting signals to said routers and said microprocessor based computing and storage device, wherein said microprocessor based computing and storage device is provided with resident wireless sensor network application software for tracking, monitoring and storing of information received via the coordinator, characterized in that each of the programmable active RFID transceiver devices consist of an external caplamp battery (CB), a first light emitting diode (L1), a voltage regulator (VR), a turnover switch (TS), an internal battery supply (BS), a safety arrangement (SA), an embedded radio (ER), a programming port (PR), a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter output (UO), an analog to digital converter (Al), a buzzer (BU), a message switch (MS), and a second light emitting diode (L2);
- wherein the external caplamp battery (CB) is connected to light emitting diode (L1) and voltage regulator (VR);
the voltage regulator (VR) is connected to the turnover switch (TS);
the turnover switch (TS) is connected to the internal battery supply (BS) and the safety arrangement (SA);
the safety arrangement (SA) is connected to the programming port (PR) and the embedded radio (ER); and
the embedded radio (ER) is separately connected to the programming port (PR), the universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter output (UO), the analog to digital converter input (AI), the buzzer (BU), the message switch (MS), and the second light emitting diode (L2).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The tracking and monitoring system for opencast mines of the present invention enables continuously tracking and monitoring vehicles and moveable equipment in opencast mines using ZigBee-enabled active RFID devices forming a dynamic wireless network among them and other static and mobile ZigBee devices placed at strategic locations. The present invention provides a tracking and monitoring system for opencast mines comprises in combination of ZigBee-compliant devices (programmable to operate as end devices, routers and coordinators by hardware specific embedded software) and wireless sensor network software having various application modules for opencast mines. Use of the system of the present invention would help in maintaining computerized record and analysing the performance of costly shovels and dumpers deployed in opencast mines. This would help in optimising the placement of dumpers with each shovel depending on the change in working and dumping places. This would also help in maintaining computerise attendance of dumper operators and other personnel working in an opencast mine. This would further help in providing warning to the signal man and dumper operator, while dumper approaching close proximity to the signal man. This would help in establishing two-way message communication among the personnel engaged in an opencast mine. This would ultimately help in improving production, productivity and safety in opencast mine.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A tracking and monitoring system for opencast mines comprising a combination of a plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices in communication with a microprocessor based computing and storage device, said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices being programmable to operate as coordinators, routers and end devices and having resident hardware specific embedded software capable of forming a dynamic wireless network among themselves such that a first plurality of said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices are programmed as routers which are strategically placed to form an unified wireless mesh-networking infrastructure, wherein each of the programmed routers is capable of transmitting and receiving signals from one or more other routers, end devices, and one of said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices which is programmed as a coordinator, the coordinator capable of receiving and transmitting signals to said routers and said microprocessor based computing and storage device, wherein said microprocessor based computing and storage device is provided with resident wireless sensor network application software for tracking, monitoring and storing of information received via the coordinator, characterized in that each of the programmable active RFID transceiver devices consist of an external caplamp battery (CB), a first light emitting diode (L1), a voltage regulator (VR), a turnover switch (TS), an internal battery supply (BS), a safety arrangement (SA), an embedded radio (ER), a programming port (PR), a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter output (UO), an analog to digital converter (Al), a buzzer (BU), a message switch (MS), and a second light emitting diode (L2);
- wherein the external caplamp battery (CB) is connected to light emitting diode (L1) and voltage regulator (VR);
the voltage regulator (VR) is connected to the turnover switch (TS);
the turnover switch (TS) is connected to the internal battery supply (BS) and the safety arrangement (SA);
the safety arrangement (SA) is connected to the programming port (PR) and the embedded radio (ER); and
the embedded radio (ER) is separately connected to the programming port (PR), the universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter output (UO), the analog to digital converter input (AI), the buzzer (BU), the message switch (MS), and the second light emitting diode (L2). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- wherein the external caplamp battery (CB) is connected to light emitting diode (L1) and voltage regulator (VR);
-
9. A method of tracking and monitoring vehicles and equipment in opencast mines using a tracking and monitoring system comprising:
-
(i) providing a combination of a plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices in communication with a microprocessor based computing and storage device, said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices being programmable to operate as coordinators, routers and end devices and having resident hardware specific embedded software capable of forming a dynamic wireless network among themselves such that a first plurality of said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices are programmed as routers which are strategically placed to form an unified wireless mesh-networking infrastructure, wherein each of the programmed routers is capable of transmitting and receiving signals from one or more other routers, end devices, and one of said plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices which is programmed as a coordinator, the coordinator capable of receiving and transmitting signals to said routers and said microprocessor based computing and storage device, wherein said microprocessor based computing and storage device is provided with resident wireless sensor network application software for tracking, monitoring and storing of information received via the coordinator, characterized in that each of the programmable active RFID transceiver devices consist of an external caplamp battery (CB), a first light emitting diode (L1), a voltage regulator (VR), a turnover switch (TS), an internal battery supply (BS), a safety arrangement (SA), an embedded radio (ER), a programming port (PR), a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter output (UO), an analog to digital converter (Al), a buzzer (BU), a message switch (MS), and a second light emitting diode (L2);
wherein the external caplamp battery (CB) is connected to light emitting diode (L1) and voltage regulator (VR);
the voltage regulator (VR) is connected to the turnover switch (TS);
the turnover switch (TS) is connected to the internal battery supply (BS) and the safety arrangement (SA);
the safety arrangement (SA) is connected to the programming port (PR) and the embedded radio (ER); and
the embedded radio (ER) is separately connected to the programming port (PR), the universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter output (UO), the analog to digital converter input (AI), the buzzer (BU), the message switch (MS), and the second light emitting diode (L2);(ii)programming the plurality of programmable active RFID transceiver devices to operate as one of a coordinator, routers and end devices; (iii)assigning the programmable active RFID transceiver devices programmed as end devices to one or more vehicles, personnel and equipment of an opencast mine; (iv) placing the programmable active RFID transceiver devices programmed as routers at various locations of the opencast mine, characterized in that the programmed routers are configured to automatically form dynamic wireless mesh network among themselves, a programmable active RFID transceiver device programmed as a coordinator, and the programmed end devices positioned at one or more locations of the mine; and (v) receiving information from one or more of the programmed routers by the programmed coordinator, the programmed coordinator being configured to send the information to the microprocessor based computing and storage device, wherein the microprocessor based computing and storage device is configured to; (a) track vehicles and equipment in the opencast mine; (b) establish two-way message communication among the end devices, wherein the two-way message communication is facilitated by setting a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) buffer of end devices; (c) automatically perform optimal shovel-dumpers performance at one or more loading points and graphically display results; (d) perform optimum placement of shovels; (e) maintain computerized attendance of personnel working in the opencast mines; and (f) prevent collisions and sending alert signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification