The new Midas 2.0 version from Siemens Industry provides mine operators with a further improved database driven software solution to boost the efficiency of mining machines that feature Siemens electrical drives. The software includes a data logger, a visualisation tool and a report generator. Compared with the previous version, the database connection has been updated in particular and the user interface given a simpler and more flexible design.
Built on the solid foundation of the .NET platform, the Midas 2.0 solution uses an active SQL Server database to deliver substantial performance increases over the previous release. SQL Server Reporting Services generates predefined reports, as well as custom reports spanning any time period and covering any number of machines. This important new feature significantly increases worker productivity by eliminating the need to retrieve data logs from each truck and each shift then enter the data into the database.
Real-time monitoring, or historical review, is now much easier with the new desktop GUI, featuring enhanced animations and user-friendly controls. Midas 2.0 is also very flexible for international operations. The intuitive user screens are based on industry-standard icons, instead of written English terms, to significantly reduce training for non-English speakers. Midas 2.0 also supports multiple written languages to optimise its use throughout the world.
The Midas solution is fully integrated with the development of the Siemens AC drive system itself to offer great insight into the machine’s operations. This enables the addition of new functionalities with only a limited amount of modification. It offers read/write options whereas other packages have read-only functionality that precludes the addition of new reporting parameters. For example, a user recently requested to include the operators’ identification numbers in reports. This was easily achieved with only minor modifications to the system.
While fully functional as a standalone solution, Midas also interfaces with the industry’s leading dispatch and mine planning systems to seamlessly incorporate shovel data into an overall mine monitoring system. The shovel solution has been in use since March 2010, and the dragline solution is scheduled for June 2011.