The purpose is of this project was to develop a mining concept for deep, narrow reef level mining operations. Various robot technologies were evaluated and considered. A design thinking approach was used to create a concept. The evaluation is done to explore existing robot technologies to be used in deep level mining applications that are too big a risk for human labour.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mining starts with the extraction of underground resources, but quickly progresses to more complex situations. As the mining depth increase the technical challenges and difficulty to retrieve resources rises. The future deep level mining environment is considered too immense a risk for human labour. Therefore, robot technology is considered as an alternative. This imposes the need to develop and improve current mining technology and equipment. This study evaluates robot technologies for deep level mining applications. Firstly, the constraints of robots associated in deep-level mining environments are identified. Thereafter, various existing robot technologies are analysed to categorize functional attributes of each robot. These were assessed with regard to the constraints, establishing a basis for selection of feasible robot technology. Recommendations are made on how to improve the existing robot technology to compensate for specific conditions. It is concluded that it is vital to develop improved technology on existing robots technologies in order to mine at deep levels. In collaboration with technology- and mining companies a mechanized mining concept was developed from these evaluations.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mynbou begin met die onttrekking van ondergrondse hulpbronne, maar vorder vinnig tot meer komplekse situasies. As die mynbou-diepte verhoog, sodoende styg die tegniese uitdagings en problem om die hulpbronne op te haal. Die toekomstige diep vlak mynbou-omgewing word beskou as n veels te ernorme risiko vir menslike arbeid. As ‘n gevolg, word robot tegnologie beskou as 'n alternatief. Dit plaas die behoefte om te ontwikkel en te verbeter op huidige mynbou-tegnologie en toerusting. Hierdie studie evalueer robot tegnologie vir 'n diep vlak mynbou-gebruike. Eerstens is die beperkings van die robotte wat in diep vlak mynbou omgewings geïdentifiseer. Daarna is verskeie bestaande robot tegnologie ontleed om funksionele eienskappe van elke robot te kategoriseer. Hierdie is beoordeel met betrekking tot die beperkinge, tot stigting van 'n basis vir die keuring van haalbaar robot tegnologie. Aanbevelings word gemaak oor hoe om die bestaande robot tegnologie te verbeter om te vergoed vir spesifieke toestande. Dit is die gevolgtrekking gekom dat dit noodsaaklik is om verbeterde tegnologie op bestaande robotte tegnologie in om te myn diep vlakke te ontwikkel. In samewerking met tegnologie-en mynmaatskappye is 'n gemeganiseerde mynbou-konsep ontwikkel uit hierdie evaluerings.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/18130
Final year projects (Baccalaureus Theses) (Industrial Engineering)21