Grant: Alliance Grants

Within the specific context of open-pit mining in Canada, RIGID ROBOTICS stands at the forefront of research and development in new data analytics for sustainable and optimized mining practices. In this field, sensors play a pivotal role in optimizing operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. Various sensor modalities have been developed and are poised for strategic deployment to enhance different facets of mining operations. The research focus is directed towards three sensor modalities: Environmental Sensors for continuous monitoring of air and water quality, as well as noise levels, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations; Equipment Health Monitoring Sensors for real-time monitoring of machinery health, enabling predictive maintenance to reduce downtime and enhance overall operational reliability; and Vehicles and Fleet Management Sensors for improved navigation, collision avoidance, and efficient fleet management within the mining site. The objective is to concentrate on defining the State Machine associated with different operational points in RIGID ROBOTICS and undertaking process optimization through the identification of optimal state machine transitions based on factors such as cost, power consumption, safety, machine downtimes, and overall operational mission times.