Photo credit Boston Dynamics azardous gases underground are an invisible threat to mining teams , who often don ’ t know they are in danger until it ’ s too late . This gas build-up can be created through the exposed strata , blasting , daily “ mucking ”, and even via runaway battery fires on critical machinery .
In 1986 , the iconic tradition of using canaries to detect the presence of dangerous gases was outlawed and miners were ordered to replace canaries with electronic carbon monoxide sensors , instead .
Currently , gas levels are measured by a ventilation system that the return air raises or wearable sensors donned by miners . While this fixed infrastructure has saved countless lives , mobile autonomous inspection of strategic areas before re-entry or in emergency situations via aerial and ground robots is the next step to complete realtime coverage .
Enter : Spot The Dog . The ingenious tech canine – which has already been making a name for himself in other sectors including offshore energy – is now sniffing out opportunities in mining .
In a new development recently showcased for the first time at Mining Indaba , Boston Dynamics Spot Enterprise ( BDSE ) robot , equipped with Maestro Digital Mine ’ s IIoT gas sensor , can be operated on mine-site , to detect gases like carbon monoxide without putting mining and ventilation teams in danger .
BDSE ’ s agile mobile robot is designed to navigate all types of terrain , allowing organisations to automate routine inspection tasks , capture data securely and safely , and
70 July 2022