Mine management system and mine managing method

• US 9,595,196 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Hiranaka, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul
• Application Number:
  US14/917,372
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/50, 340/438
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/00 Transport specially adapted to underground conditions mine cars B61D; transport in general, loading unless specially adapted to underground conditions B65G
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A mine management system for a mine where an unmanned vehicle operates in an operation area of the mine, includes an exit determination unit determining based on position data of a moving body different from the unmanned vehicle whether the moving body exits the operation area, an abnormality monitoring unit ending monitoring abnormality of the moving body based on manipulation on an input device installed in the moving body, an entrance prohibited area setting unit setting an entrance prohibited area where entrance of the unmanned vehicle is prohibited so that the entrance prohibited area includes a position of the moving body and expands the entrance prohibited area when the abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring, and an alarm device control unit activating an alarm device installed in the moving body when it is determined that the moving body exits the operation area and the input device is not manipulated.

Claims

1. A mine management system for a mine where an unmanned vehicle operates in an operation area of the mine, comprising:

an exit determination unit which determines based on position data of a moving body which is different from the unmanned vehicle whether or not the moving body exits the operation area;

an abnormality monitoring unit which ends monitoring abnormality of the moving body based on manipulation on an input device installed in the moving body;

an entrance prohibited area setting unit which sets an entrance prohibited area where entrance of the unmanned vehicle is prohibited so that the entrance prohibited area includes a position of the moving body and expands the entrance prohibited area when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring; and

an alarm device control unit which activates an alarm device installed in the moving body when it is determined that the moving body exits the operation area and the input device is not manipulated.

2. The mine management system according to claim 1, wherein when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring, the entrance prohibited area setting unit reckons a probable existence area of the moving body to expand the entrance prohibited area.

3. The mine management system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the moving body exits the operation area, the abnormality monitoring unit ends the abnormality monitoring.

4. The mine management system according to claim 1, wherein when the moving body exists in a safety area, the entrance prohibited area setting unit cancels a function of expanding the entrance prohibited area.

5. The mine management system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality monitoring unit notifies to the moving body a message indicating that the abnormality monitoring is ended.

6. A mine managing method by a computer system for a mine where an unmanned vehicle operates in an operation area of the mine, comprising:

acquiring position data of a moving body which is different from the unmanned vehicle;

setting an entrance prohibited area where entrance of the unmanned vehicle is prohibited so that the entrance prohibited area includes a position of the moving body;

determining based on the position data whether or not the moving body exits the operation area;

acquiring a command signal generated based on manipulation on an input device installed in the moving body;

ending monitoring abnormality of the moving body based on the command signal;

expanding the entrance prohibited area when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality monitoring; and

outputting a control signal of activating an alarm device installed in the moving body when it is determined that the moving body exits the operation area and the input device is not manipulated.