Modular Mining Systems, the global leader in real-time mine management solutions, today announced its fourth-generation collision awareness system (CAS) to feature key technologies from DENSO. The system combines DENSO’s industry-leading, standards-based vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) connected vehicle technologies with Modular’s own software and hardware, enabling the CAS to help increase situational awareness and mitigate collision risk in a mine.
Established in 1949, DENSO is recognized as one of the world’s largest Tier 1 suppliers of advanced automotive technology, systems, and components. The Collision Awareness System leverages DENSO’s proven technologies to provide 360° situational awareness. Audible and visual alerts warn operators of potential collisions with other CAS-enabled equipment, while complex algorithms perform real-time risk assessment calculations to minimize nuisance alarms.
Modular product strategy director Lucas van Latum said: "Our relationship with DENSO underscores our commitment to bringing the best-of-breed solutions to our customers and takes collision awareness technology in the mining industry to new heights.
"Our approach to collision awareness is built upon 15 years’ worth of standards, technologies, and algorithms developed and tested for the automotive market, which we’ve tailored and extended to meet the needs of the mining industry."
As part of the collaboration, Modular is able to leverage DENSO’s many years of automotive safety and connected vehicle technology R&D, extensive automotive industry expertise, and rigorous governmental safety testing and qualifications. The system works in several standard license-free frequencies, as well as in the licensed 5.9GHz dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) frequency spectrum, which prioritizes safety over non-safety applications, and is designed to perform in extreme weather conditions including rain, fog, snow, and heat. Modular and its customers will also benefit from DENSO’s future product enhancements and innovations as safety technologies evolve.
DENSO North America research and development vice-president Roger Berg said: "Combining Modular’s leading solutions with DENSO’s V2V technology, including dedicated short-range communications (DSRC), will put the latest advances from global intelligent transportation systems into mines."
"The applications for V2V technology extend far beyond automotive, and we are confident our collaboration with Modular will improve the mining environment and contribute to safety in mines."
Modular’s Collision Awareness System will be showcased at this year’s Mining Indonesia Expo from 13-16 September in Jakarta, Indonesia; at Exposibram 2017 from 18-21 September in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and at Expomineria from 25-28 October in Guadalajara, Mexico.