Hexagon’s integrated safety systems are helping the mining industry move confidently toward fully autonomous and incident-free operations.
Mining’s march toward autonomy is reshaping operations worldwide. But even amid this technological evolution, safety remains the top priority.
Rather than allowing those two forces to diverge, Hexagon, as a leader in measurement and autonomous solutions, is carving out a path where human operators and autonomous machines can work side by side – incurring zero harm.
At the core of Hexagon’s strategy is an integrated platform that brings together a range of safety tools into one unified system.
Whether above the surface or deep underground, this ecosystem combines the Collision Avoidance System, Vehicle Intervention System, Operator Alertness System, and Personal Alert into a tightly connected network that tracks and reduces risk in real-time.
This multi-faceted protection doesn’t just prevent collisions between vehicles or between vehicles and people; it also addresses less obvious dangers like driver fatigue and distraction, which remain major concerns even as automation grows.
Recognising these risks, Hexagon has developed technologies that account for the complex reality of mines, where manned and autonomous vehicles operate in close proximity.
While Collision Avoidance System and Vehicle Intervention System primarily support manned equipment by detecting hazards and automatically applying brakes or slowing vehicles, the latter also extends critical protections to autonomous units by controlling propulsion as needed.
This seamless cooperation is vital in high-risk areas like haul roads and loading zones, where even a second of hesitation can have serious consequences. Dealing with unreliable GPS signals or low-visibility conditions – common in underground tunnels or foggy open pits – is another challenge Hexagon’s systems are built to handle.
By integrating 4D radar with Collision Avoidance System and Vehicle Intervention System, Hexagon’s technology can detect untagged vehicles, personnel, and infrastructure without depending on the global navigation satellite system or visual cues. This helps to ensure the system keeps a constant watch, even in fog, dust, or underground settings where traditional cameras might struggle.
However, it’s not just about individual systems.
Hexagon ties all this safety data together in a central platform called Safety Insights, which offers thorough analytics and incident reporting. This not only supports quick incident responses but helps mines plan better for the future.
For operations juggling mixed fleets of human-operated and autonomous equipment, this unified data is invaluable for coordinating movements and improving overall site awareness.
Hexagon’s suite of products has already yielded a range of benefits, having helped leading mines like Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi, MMG’s Rosebery, and KAZ Minerals’ Bozshakol.
According to Oyu Tolgoi superintendent – mine support Khorolsuren (Khoggy) Ganzorig, the decision to adopt Hexagon’s Collision Avoidance System was an easy one.
“Rio Tinto and Oyu Tolgoi have a really big ambition to eliminate fatality incidents related to vehicle interaction,” Ganzorig said.
“To fulfil that ambition, we looked for a good system that can contribute to our journey.”
Hexagon was the obvious choice.
“The way Hexagon develops their product is very good,” Ganzorig said.
“They not only reflect the technology trends, but they also try to incorporate the industry trends and then also the user needs.”
That understanding and ability to anticipate the sector’s requirements is propelling Hexagon into the future, with the company pushing the boundaries of hazard avoidance through new innovations.
Some of these upgrades include the implementation of Real-Time Kinematic positioning, a technology that improves GPS precision from several metres down to just a few centimetres by using correction signals from a fixed base station, helping vehicles know their exact location in real-time. With Real-Time Kinematic integrated into Collision Avoidance System, Hexagon’s system now offers significantly enhanced location accuracy.
Meanwhile, Hexagon’s planned updates to Vehicle Intervention System include features like lane-keeping, advanced fatigue monitoring powered by machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, adding another vital layer of protection.
These measures not only enhance immediate wellbeing but also lay the foundation for what a fully connected and autonomous mining operation could look like. By unifying data streams and automating hazard responses across mixed fleets, the company is providing the “confidence that vital industries rely on to build, navigate, and innovate”.
In the relentless drive for safer and smarter mines, Hexagon’s integrated, intelligent safety systems are paving the way, helping the mining industry move towards what matters most: zero harm.
This feature appeared in the November-December edition of Safe to Work.