ACARP ACARP ACARP ACARP
Open Cut

Dragline Swing Assist

Open Cut » Overburden Removal

Published: February 03Project Number: C9028

Get ReportAuthor: Graeme Winstanley | CSIRO Manufacturing & Infrastructure Technology

This report describes the CSIRO Dragline Swing Assist (DSA) technology and the performance of the proof-of-concept system installed on the BE1350 dragline at Boundary Hill. DSA is a radical new technology for dragline operation and can be seen as an addition to any other dragline technology (eg. Parallel rigging, or Universal dig & dump). The productivity trial provided the first extended test of its operation. Results indicate that the technology is reliable and that for some, but not all, digging situations can exceed the average operator performance.

The trial was conducted over 2 weeks in November 2002 and over 3,000 computer controlled cycles were performed. The number of cycles achieved was unfortunately well short of the targetted 10,000 and this does raise issues about the statistical significance of the results. The shortfall had many causes, all beyond the control of the research team, and included unprecedented levels of downtime, extremely difficult spoiling, and operational constraints.

The production trial has clearly demonstrated that it is possible for a computer to emulate all of the essential operator skills: disengaging from the bank, dumping and bucket recovery. The most significant points from the trial are that:
  • The system is able to match or exceed operator performance in some, but not all, cycles.
  • Return time was significantly better than swing time.
  • Subjectively the system has a skill level equivalent to an operator with 6 months training. Particular skills such as bucket disengage, dumping and recovery are performed consistently well.
  • The system is highly reliable, there were no hardware or software failures over the duration of the trial.
  • The system's operator interface is intuitive and was readily accepted by the operators

At this stage of development the computer's skills are not perfect, but based on experience gained during the trial they can be improved with further research. Some of the performance difference is that, unlike a skilled operator, the computer control system cannot skim the bucket close to the spoil pile since terrain information is not available to it. The best path for the bucket to travel is a function not just of machine limits, but also of the terrain and the particular dig and dump point. At all times during the trial, for machine safety, we chose conservative bucket paths to avoid bucket/spoil collisions. The resultant overhoisting imposes a clear time penalty on the DSA system.

The report concludes with a recommendation outlining next steps in the enhancement of this technology.

Underground

Health and safety, productivity and environment initiatives.

Recently Completed Projects

C33029Review Longwall Face Ventilation To Mitigate Goaf Gas Emissions Onto Walkways And Tailgate End

As longwall mining increasingly targets deeper coal seams, managing ...

C29009Control Of Transient Touch Voltages During Switching

There have been an increasing number of electric shock incidents rep...

C29025Effectiveness Of Shotcrete In Underground Coal Mines

The primary objective of this project is to quantify the effectivene...

Underground

Open Cut

Safety, productivity and the right to operate are priorities for open cut mine research.

Open Cut

Coal Preparation

Maximising throughput and yield while minimising costs and emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C34041A Coal Spiral For The 2020S

The objective of this project is to develop an enhanced coal process...

C33057Foreign Contaminants Detection On Conveyor Belts Using Digital Imaging Processing Techniques And Coal Penetrating Sensors

This project was initiated to tackle the ongoing issue of foreign co...

C29065Wash Plant Fines Testing Methods Enhancement

Accurately estimating the proportion of expected fine size material ...

Coal Preparation

Technical Market Support

Market acceptance and emphasising the advantages of Australian coals.

Recently Completed Projects

C34054Scoping Study: Design Of Cokes From Biomass-Coal Blends For Sustainable Blast Furnace Ironmaking

There is an increasing focus on improving the environmental sustaina...

C34058Strength Development In Fouling Deposits

When coal is combusted in a boiler, the fly ash that is produced flo...

C34059Coke Reactivity With CO2 And H2O And Impacts On Coke Microstructure And Gas Diffusion

With the global shift to low-carbon ironmaking, partial substitution...

Technical Market Support

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the production of coal.

Recently Completed Projects

C34066Safe Operation Of Catalytic Reactors For The Oxidation Of VAM Operating Under Abnormal Reaction Conditions

The catalyst Pd/TS-1 has shown excellent activity in oxidising venti...

C28076Selective Absorption Of Methane By Ionic Liquids (SAMIL)

This third and final stage of this project was the culmination of a ...

C29069Low-Cost Catalyst Materials For Effective VAM Catalytic Oxidation

Application of ventilation air methane (VAM) thermal oxidiser requir...

Mine Site Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Low Emission Coal Use

Step-change technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently Completed Projects

C17060BGasification Of Australian Coals

Four Australian coals were trialled in the Siemens 5 MWth pilot scale ga...

C17060AOxyfuel Technology For Carbon Capture And Storage Critical Clean Coal Technology - Interim Support

The status of oxy-fuel technology for first-generation plant is indicate...

C18007Review Of Underground Coal Gasification

This report consists of a broad review of underground coal gasification,...

Low Emission Coal Use

Mining And The Community

The relationship between mines and the local community.

Recently Completed Projects

C16027Assessing Housing And Labour Market Impacts Of Mining Developments In Bowen Basin Communities

The focus of this ACARP-funded project has been to identify a number...

C22029Understanding And Managing Cumulative Impacts Of Coal Mining And Other Land Uses In Regions With Diversified Economies

The coal industry operates in the context of competing land-uses that sh...

C23016Approval And Planning Assessment Of Black Coal Mines In NSW And Qld: A Review Of Economic Assessment Techniques

This reports on issues surrounding economic assessment and analysis ...

Mining And The Community

NERDDC

National Energy Research,Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC) reports - pre 1992.

Recently Completed Projects

1609-C1609Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

Self Heating of Spoil Piles from Open Cut Coal Mines

1301-C1301Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development...

Stress Control Methods for Optimised Development and Extraction Operations

0033-C1356Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals...

Commissioned Report: Australian Thermal Coals - An Industry Handbook

NERDDC