International Mining is focusing on automation and remote control in the January issue. New in that area is a mine robot designed to work in areas with methane-explosion hazards. In Poland EMAG has completed work on GMRI. A prototype of the device has already been built.The project has been carried out by the EMAG Institute in cooperation with the Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements in Warsaw. The result of the project is a prototype of GMRI Mine-Mobile-Inspection Robot that can be used to measure the concentration of methane, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and the values of temperature and humidity. Additionally, it can be used to transmit TV pictures showing the conditions of the underground environment.

When put in the appropriate area, the robot starts to transmit pictures and information on gas concentration, temperature and humidity to the operator’s station. Using this information, the mine condition as well as decisions on further actions can be assessed faster and more accurately. As a result, the rescue team will be less exposed to dangers with entering the hazardous-area. Mines will be able to re-start the excavation process faster – estimates Leszek Kasprzyczak, Phd. Eng. from the EMAG Institute, the project co-ordinator.

The project funded by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) was co-ordinated by the Institute of Innovative Technologies EMAG. The EMAG Institute was also responsible for the development of all electronic, measuring, visual, programmable and control sub-assemblies as well as control-measurement software. The Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements developed mainly the mechanical part of the robot -body and drives. The prototype of the GMRI is a non-commercial version mainly aimed at getting experience and knowledge essential to developing an improved commercial version.