Caterpillar is collaborating with Guardhat to develop wearable technology that can monitor people in challenging settings.
The system, called Cat Connected Worker, is suitable for surface mining operations where event-based monitoring and mapping is delivered via Wi-Fi and cellular connections.
Connected devices in the Guardhat line includes hardhats, personnel tags, asset tags and smartphones, which can provide precise location of workers to the mine monitoring system.
Cat MineStar Solutions marketing manager Bill Dears said as a component of Cat MineStar Detect safety capabilities, Connected Worker would provide insight that would enable managers to create safer operations and to respond quickly if an incident did occur.
“Leveraging Guardhat technology, proven in challenging industrial settings, will speed development of a comprehensive, digital solution sought by mining customers,” he said.
Guardhat chief operating officer Indranil Roychoudhury said that the Detroit-based company was pleased to work with Caterpillar to deliver smart technology to enhance miners’ safety.
“Our safety monitoring and data analysis system … is designed to collect and analyse data to support and improve worker safety and productivity programs,” he said.
Guardhat is an Internet of Things (IoT) company that specialises in developing wearables, infrastructure and software platforms to provide safety to frontline workers.
The Cat Connected Worker will be supported by Cat dealers worldwide.