Having secured the foremost market position with its Pedestrian Detection System (PDS), Booyco Electronics has launched its fully integrated Asset Protection System (APS) for surface equipment. Anton Lourens, Managing Director, says that the APS represents latest generation technology and facilitates effective communication between surface vehicles.
“Visitors to the Booyco Electronics stand at Electra Mining Africa 2016 will be able to experience first-hand how we have leveraged this electronic technology to enhance vehicle and operator safety in surface mining operations,” Lourens says.
He explains that as a leading supplier of reliable innovative mine safety related products, Booyco Electronics combines its in-depth understanding of conditions in both underground and surface mining operations with best practice engineering and manufacturing expertise to produce a line-up of technologically proficient solutions.
“The APS was developed, in addition to our underground VLF system, and it has been optimised for both the detection of pedestrian movement and more accurate detection of fast moving machinery in relation to each other,” he says.
The Booyco Electronics APS transfers information between users via the company’s unique Human Machine Interface and because it is able to process large amounts of data rapidly it meets the critical requirement for vehicle to vehicle proximity detection. Communication with operators is done using easily recognisable icons making it simple to understand and avoiding any issues through poor literacy levels. Another option is pre-recorded messages in any language and this encourages adoption and prevents alienation of the system.
Booyco Electronics only deploys its proximity warning solutions following application and situation specific risk assessments. This, Lourens explains, ensures appropriate fit-for-purpose deployment of its PDS and APS solutions which is essential for the reliable provision of information to facilitate safety interventions.
When pedestrians or other vehicles are detected, the PDS and APS deliver specific application appropriate alerts which could include an initial warning, controlled slow-down zone of the vehicle and a stopping zone. Technology use allows the system to create narrow band zones in close proximity to the side of the vehicle and determine zone shaping to meet specific operational requirements.
The PDS and APS incorporate full self-diagnostics, which are visual and voice display activated in the case of a warning or system failure. In addition, the systems are supplied with testing equipment for both the surface and underground areas to ensure maximum functionality. Various downloading options are available for recorded data, including wireless when at an access point. The system is also IS-compliant meeting the safety requirements of fiery mines.
BEAMS software is used as a reporting tool to ensure that PDS and APS events can be analysed and used as a change-in-behaviour tool.
Also on display on the stand will be the Booyco Electronics Biometric Control System. This innovative system, developed specifically for the operating environment in the mining sector, uses fingerprints to facilitate access to restricted areas and to validate licensed machine operators.
Use is made of personalised smart cards on which an individual’s fingerprints and other relevant data such as licensed capabilities and expiry dates are stored. This provides the ideal solution allowing controlled access to moveable items such as earthmoving and mining equipment, blasting boxes and carts, as well as conveyor starter panels.
Booyco Electronics has also established itself as a provider of reliable sensors capable of providing accurate information and optimising safety, both on surface and underground. The locally manufactured products are engineered to withstand the harsh conditions in a mining or petrochemical environment.
The ESI Smart Sensor for fixed locations and the handheld Sentient Sensor will be on display at Electra Mining Africa 2016.
The compact ESI Smart Sensor, weighing only 1.8 kg, has the ability to measure one of 15 different gases from a single controller. This feature sets the instrument apart from other such units currently available. The device’s information display makes it simple to use, and it can also accommodate other sensors with analogue outputs, such as air velocity sensors or smoke detectors.
Gases that can be monitored using this EXia T4 Intrinsically Safe gas sensing instrument include oxygen (02), carbon dioxide (CO2), flammable gases such as methane (CH4) and combustible gases such as carbon monoxide (CO). The instrument also carries SANS IEC 60079 Part 0:2005, SANS IEC 60079 Part 11: 2007 and IEC 60529 (IP code) approvals and offers ingress protection to IP56.
The Sentient is a handheld multi-gas sensor specifically developed to improve safety in confined spaces. This low maintenance device is operated using an innovative “tap” sensor and does not have any buttons on it. This ensures the instrument remains watertight.
Another unique feature is its ‘drop protection’ capability that automatically switches the device off should it be dropped. The Sentient, which also measures relative humidity as a standard offering, is IP68 rated and available with Fire Patrol capabilities. The Fire Patrol Sentient unit has a bright red seal and is inserted into outstations located in specific areas underground or on surface. The device then records date, time, gas and humidity measurements at that specific location.
