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Computerized mine production system

  • US 8,190,173 B2
  • Filed: 05/09/2011
  • Issued: 05/29/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking mobile equipment at a site, said method comprising the steps of:

  • tracking information regarding a status of the mobile equipment with a mobile computer unit joined to the mobile equipment;

    storing information regarding the status of the mobile equipment on the mobile computer unit joined to the mobile equipment;

    transmitting information regarding the status of the mobile equipment from the mobile computer unit joined to the mobile equipment to a central computer unit; and

    assigning tasks for mobile equipment including;

    a step of evaluating cost for allocating each unallocated truck to the path using a weighted algorithm of excess travel time incurred by all trucks in an assignment set, the total truck waiting time incurred by all trucks in the assignment set, and a total loading unit idle time incurred by all shovels in the assignment set, further including;

    a first step of creating an assignment set including an ordered queue of the mobile equipment assigned to each loading unit;

    a second step of finding a neediest path which minimizes (mobile equipment travel time)*((average feed rate of the path)−

    (target feed rate for the path));

    as a third step, the step of evaluating cost for allocating each unallocated truck to the path using a weighted algorithm of excess travel time incurred by all trucks in an assignment set, the total truck waiting time incurred by all trucks in the assignment set, and a total loading unit idle time incurred by all shovels in the assignment set;

    a fourth step of for the smallest total truck value for cost, allocating one of the mobile equipment to the assignment set; and

    a fifth step of repeating said second through fourth steps until the assignment set with a minimum total cost is found.

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