Supplier of mining infrastructure technology, Becker Mining Systems, boosts the safety and efficiency of its mining operations machinery and systems with the inclusion of computer vision and artificial intelligence, thanks to alwaysAI.
For such a historic industry, mining is surprisingly accepting of advanced technologies. This is because the benefits – as with everything else in mining – are applied at such a great scale.
With increasing responsibilities in safety and environmental impact over the past 50 years, long-term investment in automation, drones, digital modeling and data analytics are easy choices to make. But it's the combination of computer vision and artificial intelligence that is getting Becker Mining Systems – supplier to over 10,000 mining companies – really excited. And with the process mining market set to grow more than 40% over the next 10 years, despite increasing environmental pressures, there’s a lot of market to be gained.
Becker x alwaysAI
Together with vision & AI software developer alwaysAI, Becker Mining Systems will develop advanced computer vision applications for their customers, addressing key challenges such as how to monitor restricted areas properly, ensuring the correct and appropriate use of PPE (personal protective equipment) and guaranteeing the safety and efficient use of equipment.
By using the system to automate the most dangerous or complex, yet critical, processes, and provide real-time ongoing monitoring and feedback, computer vision is capable of reducing the levels of manual supervision required, leading to greater safety and efficiency figures while lowering costs.
Which mining tasks can computer vision be applied to?
Possible use cases for alwaysAI’s and Becker Mining Systems’ system include the real-time monitoring of conveyor belt health to detect rips, cracks or even wear at an early stage, and exclusion zones around the belts, making sure no personnel enter dangerous areas; optimise cage usage by tracking personnel and equipment through cage transport; tracking individual personnel and vehicles in real-time to reduce the risk of accident with tagging and tracking and proximity detection systems; and monitoring access to restricted areas.
“Our computer vision solutions are designed to provide real-time insights and alerts that reduce risks and improve operational efficiency, especially in high-risk environments like mining,” said Marty Beard, CEO of alwaysAI. “We’re excited to partner with Becker Mining Systems, which will significantly enhance worker safety, reduce mechanical failures, and enhance operations in mines.”
The collaborative sentiment is shared by Becker Mining Systems themselves, meanwhile, with the company’s co-chief executive officer, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wegener commenting: “By integrating this cutting-edge technology into mines, we can help minimise risks and reduce machine downtime while boosting overall performance.”
With the applications developed by the collaborative effort integrating with Becker Mining Systems’ existing infrastructure, the company will oversee the installation of the on-site systems, including camera and edge devices.
