INTEGRATED AUTOMATION SYSTEM

• US 20120053703A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sydney The University of Business Liaison Office
• Inventors: Nettleton, Eric, Hennessy, Ross, Durrant-Whyte, Hugh, Göktogan, Ali Haydar
• Granted Patent: US 9,382,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 41/26 Methods of surface mining machines for obtaining, or the removal of, materials in open-pit mines E21C47/00; Layouts therefor

Abstract

Autonomous operations are conducted within a defined geographical region. In an autonomous system of a management party a plurality of localised zones are established having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the geographical region. Entities having autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localised zones. The autonomous system of the management party is integrated with the autonomous operating systems of the entities.

Claims

1. A method of effecting autonomous operations within a defined graphical region, the method comprising:

establishing an autonomous system of a management party for the defined geographical region;

establishing in the autonomous system of the management party a plurality of localised zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the geographical region,

employing entities having autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localised zones, and

integrating the autonomous system of a management party with the autonomous operating systems of the entities, wherein said integrating comprises;

registering in the autonomous system of a management party the autonomous entities with respective localised zones; and

the autonomous system of a management party directing the operations of the registered autonomous entities within the respective localised zones.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the entities comprise at least one mobile autonomous entity and the method comprises the autonomous system of the management party controlling movement of the mobile autonomous entity between localised zones.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein controlling movement of the mobile autonomous entity comprises registering the mobile autonomous entity with a different localised zone if the mobile autonomous entity moves into the different localised zone.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 comprising:

providing transition zones between adjacent localised zones, wherein the autonomous system of the management party directs the mobile entity to pass through the transition zone if moving between the adjacent zones.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

varying the geographical boundary of at least one of the localised zones within the defined geographical region.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein establishing the plurality of localised zones uses geographical boundaries comprising a physical barrier.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein establishing the plurality of localised zones uses geographical boundaries comprising a virtual barrier.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 comprising:

mapping the virtual harrier using a position-based control system.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the defined geographical region comprises a mine site and wherein the localised zones respectively embrace distinct mine operation areas within the mine site.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the mine operation areas include drilling, blasting, loading, haulage and plant areas of the mine site.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

enabling at least one management party operator to exercise overriding control over the autonomous system of the management party and, by way of that system, over the autonomous operating systems of the entities.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 comprising enabling the management party operator to query the autonomous system of the management party and the autonomous operating systems.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 comprising providing the operator with authority to supersede or shut down automation systems.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 comprising the autonomous system the managing party enabling the operator to perform tasks selected from:

monitoring the status of the entities;

managing, planning and scheduling operations in the geographic region;

handling and managing emergency situations; and

regulatory assessment of information systems.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said integrating comprises the autonomous system of the management party:

combining information from a plurality of sensors to form an operating picture of the geographic region and the autonomous entities.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said integrating comprises the autonomous system of the management party:

scheduling tasks for the operation of the autonomous entities.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said autonomous operating systems comprise an autonomous system controlling a plurality of autonomous entities within a said localised zone.

2. (canceled)

19. An automation system for integrating operation of a plurality of autonomous entities within a defined geographic region, comprising:

a picture compilation system that combines information from a plurality of sensors to form an operating picture of the geographic region and the autonomous entities, wherein the geographic region comprises a plurality of localised zones having operation-defined geographical boundaries; and

a control system comprising at least one controller corresponding to each localised zone, wherein the autonomous entities are associated with respective controllers and the controllers are arranged to direct autonomous operation of the associated entities.

20. The automation system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

a planning system in communication with the picture compilation system and the control system that schedules tasks for the operation of the autonomous entities.

21. The automation system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the controlled plurality of entities is heterogeneous and comprises at least first and second entity types.

22. The automation system as claimed in claim 19 comprising a plurality of interface units enabling interoperability of the automation system and autonomous operating systems of the entities.

23. The automation system as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of the autonomous entities is mobile and the control system is arranged to control movement of the mobile entity between localised zones.

25. The automation system as claimed in claim 19 comprising at least one operator interface that enables an operator to exercise overriding control over the automation system and, by way of the automation system, over the entities.

26. The automation system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the picture compilation system comprises a plurality of sub-systems that correspond to respective localised zones, the sub-systems arranged to form an operating picture of the corresponding localised zones.

24. The automation system as claimed in claim wherein the control system is arranged to associate the mobile entity with a different controller if the mobile entity moves into a localised zone corresponding to the different controller.

27-28. -28. (canceled)