Rio Tinto has implemented a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) proximity awareness system at its Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia, a major copper and gold operation designed to protect up to 2,500 personnel. This deployment represents a significant step in adapting advanced automotive safety technology to the demanding conditions of underground mining.
The system, developed through a collaboration between Cohda Wireless and Spectrum FiftyNine, pairs wearable smartTags with vehicle-mounted units to deliver real-time awareness of personnel locations, even where visibility is limited. A critical advantage is its ability to function without relying on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, making it well-suited for underground environments.
The smartTag, integrated into miners’ cap lamps, detects personnel within three meters and communicates with Cohda’s MK5 vehicle units. This technology operates effectively without GNSS—a crucial feature for subterranean applications tech-collaboration-to-set-new-mine-safety-benchmark.
The Mine and Its Scale
Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine, located in Mongolia’s Umnugovi province, ranks among the world’s largest copper and gold deposits. The implementation ensures that approximately 2,500 mine personnel gain enhanced situational awareness, a development expected to establish a new standard for proximity detection in underground mining.
How the System Works
The safety system provides real-time location data for personnel and vehicles, even around blind corners or through obstructed lines of sight. The Spectrum FiftyNine smartTag delivers 802.11p V2P detection accuracy within three meters and integrates with Cohda’s MK5 units. Beyond distance measurement, the smartTag incorporates a visual warning system that flashes lights to alert workers to approaching mining vehicles tech-collaboration-to-set-new-mine-safety-benchmark.
The Companies Behind the Technology
Cohda Wireless brings extensive V2X expertise, with its solutions integrated into over 60 percent of connected vehicle trials globally and a significant presence in the mining sector. Spectrum FiftyNine, based in the Netherlands, specializes in designing compact V2X hardware modules for controlled environments like underground mines. Together, they combine Cohda’s established V2X platform with Spectrum FiftyNine’s specialized hardware design capabilities.
The smartTag itself is a compact, low-power device designed to integrate into standard mining cap lamps. It offers cost-effective proximity detection with precision accuracy within three meters and operates reliably with minimal power consumption.
Broader Applications and Goals
The overarching goal is to reduce accident rates and improve operational safety in underground mining facilities worldwide. The focus on vehicle-related incidents addresses a persistent hazard in underground mining, where large, powerful equipment poses constant risk to personnel.
Rio Tinto emphasizes that worker safety and wellbeing are paramount. The company views this deployment as an example of how automotive innovations can be adapted to enhance situational awareness in challenging underground conditions, contributing to safer and more efficient mining operations.
Cohda Wireless’s leadership highlighted the transformative potential of connected and intelligent transport solutions in mining, noting that such technologies can substantially decrease risks of injury and fatality while boosting productivity. Spectrum FiftyNine’s CEO and Founder detailed the development process, emphasizing initial focus on simplifying system complexity and optimizing radio frequency performance. Through the partnership with Cohda Wireless, the technology has expanded into agriculture, warehousing, infrastructure, and logistics—all sectors where safety is critical. The successful miniaturization of the smartTag to fit within mining cap lamps has created a specialized personal protective equipment solution that maintains high reliability despite its compact form factor.
Sources
- https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/29012026/tech-collaboration-to-set-new-mine-safety-benchmark/
