Teleremote operation - video clip

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The Thumb Controller (TC) has 'Cruise Control' which operates just like an automobile. The operator has full proportional control of the tramming speed so he can set a suitable speed and then the cruise-control will maintain that speed for him provided he always keeps at least one finger on a 'deadman' touch-button. He can increase or decrease the 'cruise' speed at any time to compensate for changes in the tunnel eg. rough ground conditions.

Nautilus has been designing and manufacturing Powercam Teleremote Systems since 1991.

Note the simplicity of the 'Control Room' above which consists of a small fold-up table and a comfortable chair. Contractors tend to use an SUV because they need to frequently move their Powercam System from one area of the mine to another. Whichever method our customer prefers the equipment takes up very little space as shown in the photograph above.

Operator’s Equipment

To make sure that the operator is very comfortable while teleoperating the loader we have made the wireless “Thumb-Controller” Unit extremely small and very, very light (1.2lbs or 0.45kg).  Since the operator may have to control the loader for hours at a time we use ‘zero-force’ touch buttons and ‘cruise-control’ to make his life as comfortable and as easy as possible. This means more productivity for the customer.

The only other Nautilus unit the operator needs is the TCM unit which is shown on the table (to the left of the TV). The TCM will support virtually any type of TV which has a fast recovery time after a loss of signal. A typical TV would be a 32" plasma or LCD flat-screen depending on the operator’s preference and local availability. For those customers who need dual screens so the operator can see the view in front of and behind the loader at the same time the TCM will support dual TV screens. The second TV can be added at any time.

Tunnel Equipment

To transmit the radio and video wireless signals between the operator and the loader requires some equipment to be mounted in the mine tunnels. Nautilus has managed after many years of research to reduce this equipment to the absolute minimum. All that is required is a Nautilus “Selectable Super-Amp” every 100m plus one inexpensive coaxial cable. This SS-Amp will handle all of the two-way radio and wireless video signals.

LHD Equipment

There will be three colour cameras on the loader. These 3 cameras will be connected to a Video-Tx. Each Video-Tx has a Video-Antenna to transmit the wireless video pictures to a Video-Antenna located on the roof of the tunnel..

There will be a single Remote Vehicle Unit (RVU) on the loader.  This is a standard Nautilus RVU unit which controls all of the functions on the loader as directed by the operator’s Thumb Controller (TC). 

Laser Barriers

Nautilus normally supplies Laser Barriers to protect all entrances to the Teleremoting area. If a person or vehicle penetrates a Laser Barrier, the Powercam System will automatically shut down all loaders that are being remotely controlled in that area.  The operator’s TC will show the operator which barrier was penetrated and will not allow him to continue using the TC until that barrier has been manually reset. Naturally the operator must not reset the barrier without first making sure that all persons and any unauthorized vehicles have been removed from the tramming area.

Testing and Trouble-shooting

The Powercam has been designed so that the operator’s TC controls the loader by communicating with the TCM (by radio) which is only a few metres away.  The TCM is responsible for communications with the RVU on the loader using the equipment located in the tunnel.

During testing or trouble-shooting the operator can change the way the system operates by pressing the “LHD Direct” button on the TC. This mode of operation bypasses the TCM and the tunnel equipment and allows the operator's TC to communicate directly with the RVU on the loader. This is very useful during the initial installation and commissioning phase because the operator can stand close to the loader and using his TC he can test every LHD function. Once all of the remotely controlled functions are operating correctly he can then check  each camera picture before returning to the SUV (or to his table, chair and TV) which could be more than 1,000 feet from  the loader.

Nautilus supplies a small 8” colour TV with each system which can be powered by a 12V battery. 12V batteries are readily available in most countries, if not Nautilus will supply a small 12V 12Ah battery and charger. This small TV can then be placed on the loader and a tiny video antenna connected to it which will capture the wireless video and display the colour picture from one of the three cameras on the loader. This lets the installer check that each camera view is exactly what he wants.

Automated Guidance System (AGS)

Nautilus has been working on it’s guidance system for many years and has come up with a very unique solution  which will be very reliable. The AGS equipment is still under development.

Factory Testing

Nautilus built it’s own small, battery powered, stainless steel loader more than 10 years ago and uses this vehicle to test all of it’s Teleremote and AGS systems.

No Place to sit down?

For those operators who don't have the luxury of an SUV or a table and chair somewhere in the mine, Nautilus provides a tripod, a TV and a small 12V battery which will power the TV for more than 8 hours as shown in the photograph below.