Published byDavid Forshaw on
1 July 2021 12:03:33 PM
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By 2010, miners' Cap Lamps finally shifted from traditional corded Cap Lamps to cordless. By 2010, the second cap lamp evolution occurred, with the transformation from illumination only devices to wireless digital devices. This is in correlation with modern mines going digital and implementing IoT solutions to reduce costs, optimise productivity and increase safety.
When deciding how to integrate miners into the digital mine, do you keep adding new devices to the associated infrastructure or do you embed all digital functions you require into the cordless Cap Lamp the miner already wears?
Essentially, an IoT Cap Lamp is a regular Cap Lamp with wireless functionalities. This wireless technology is not for high-speed communications. It is purposely designed for monitor and control using low power. It is best described as IoT cap lamp, as it is more than just a wireless cap lamp.
Role of Caps Lamps in Digital Mines
The Cap Lamp is the ONLY device
1. powered by battery and
2. carried by every miner
3. all the time
The Cap Lamp is becoming
A "Personal Data Centre"
A critical PPE Safety Communications Devices
What is an IoT Cap Lamp
An IoT Cap Lamp is a general Cap Lamp with embedded Wireless module(s) in
low bandwidth
low power
for monitoring, control, alerts and signalling
Wireless Cap Lamp
is for monitoring and control
is NOT for high-speed two-way communication
This is why we call it IoT, instead of Wireless
Advantages of Cordless Cap Lamps
This transition is nearly complete!
Is "Cordless" suitable for IoT?
Pro:
Better radio signal coverage due to its elevated omni-directional position