Open Cut » Health and Safety
For future mine machinery automation, GNSS navigation technologies offer significant advantages over traditional mechanical positioning sensors for the purposes of machine location, collision avoidance etc. They are reliable, accurate, and require no calibration and minimal maintenance. With increased accuracy and availability comes the potential for significant improvements in efficiency and safety. However, unlike the international aerospace industry who routinely certify GNSS for safety applications, formal AS/IEC 61508 and AS/IEC 61511 SIL assessment processes for certifying GNSS systems for mining safety functions don't currently exist.
This project has developed a set of 'leading practices' for SIL-rating GNSS systems for future mining automation projects by drawing upon the same testing and validation techniques adopted by the aerospace industries. Leveraging from GPSat Systems' substantial experience in satellite navigation system design and validation testing for both the defence and aerospace sectors, through a series of investigations, training and industry engagement two documents:
· Recommended Leading Practices for GNSS SENSOR Selection for Mining AS/IEC 61508 Compliance;
· Recommended Leading Verification & Test Processes for SYSTEMS Validation Incorporating GNSS Sensor Technology for Mining AS/IEC 61508 Compliance.
The intention is that these two documents become the starting point for future Australian mining industry policies and procedures for validation testing and certifying GNSS systems for AS/IEC 61508 compliance.
The industry monitors for this project have noted that further work is required to make the content of this report more accessible to the mining community. The report has been released in its current form to provide information on SIL validation for GNSS sensors and systems and as a basis for further work on the functional safety of positioning and navigation technologies.