Sherborne Sensors has announced that its DSIC inclinometers and A323 accelerometers are being used to provide geo-reference position data as part of an automated mineshaft inspection technology.
Based on LiDAR, (Light Detection and Ranging) technology and high resolution photography, the Mobile Shaft Scanning System (MS3) being developed by Canada’s Sight Power. combines three core elements – lasers, global positioning system (GPS), and inertial navigation systems (INS) – promising substantial savings and improvements in safety.
The conventional mineshaft inspection procedure is to lower engineers down the shaft in an elevator at a speed below 1m/sec. However, with the MS3 system, the laser scanning device will be attached to the elevator and move up and down the shaft at speeds that enable quick and unobtrusive shaft scanning.
Because GPS is not available underground, Sherborne Sensors’ DSIC inclinometers will measure the amount of roll and pitch of the carriers to give an indication of whether or not the movement down the shaft is well controlled. Meanwhile, the A323 accelerometers will measure the performance of the carriers with respect to vibration and acceleration during normal operation as well as during inspection cycles.
“LiDAR systems are ideal for mineshaft inspection, because the typical distance from the scanning device to objects within the shaft barrel is only three to four metres,” said Sight Power’s CEO and CTO, Borys Vorobyov. “But without GPS, a variety of positional aids are required to assist the INS, including inertial sensors such as accelerometers and inclinometers. We compared products from a number of suppliers and the consensus was that Sherborne Sensors provided the best match for accuracy, price and reputation.”
