Powerful and compliant collision-avoidance

SIL-rated and AS61508 anti-collision systems you can count on

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Machine-to-machine collisions are one of the leading causes of serious accidents in the mining industry.

MRA combines the most innovative technology with mining expertise to deliver a complete collision avoidance system suitable for your bulk-handling mine or port.

Multiple types of collision risk are eliminated by MRA’s approach, including:

Machine to machine
Machine to stockpile
Machine to end buffer

Machine to conveyor
Machine to bund
Machine to stockyard base layer

Machine to work area (exclusion zone)

Benefits

The highlighted risks determine the Safety Integration Function for each task to be performed by the ACS PLC. The risks also determine SIL rating and safety requirement specs for the activities of the Safety Instrumented Systems.

Protection methodologies establish Collision Zones between machines, and the ACS inhibits machine motions within the anti-collision zones of another.

MRA’s process is site-specific, and involves a custom HAZOP assessment that requires your operators, superintendents, safety and machine experts to run through collision scenarios to define the risks.

FAQs

What do the machine-to-machine anti-collision zones include:

Slow-down zones, to limit the speed of the major motion such as long travel or slew.
Inhibit Zones to allow a machine to move at full speed in the opposite direction of the collision risk
All Motion Stop Zones that inhibit all major motions.

What happens when a potential collision is prevented by the anti-collision system?

All anti-collision systems are alarmed and reported to SCADA. Machine ACS bypasses are used to enable operators to recover the machine into a safe zone of operation. Machine integrity checks are performed on the machine for communications loss to onboard I/0 modules, hardware errors, encoder discrepancy, over speed, moving without instruction and failure to detect motion. These then form part of the System Requirement Specification.

What our clients say

Geoff Irvine

Rockwell Automation

“We are delighted to have collaborated with MRA and this high value application.
The Smart Stockyard Management System is a key piece in bringing the “Connected Mine” to life for our mining customers.”

What our clients say

Anthony Manousso

Anglo American

“The coding that MRA developed within the ControlLogix PLC is extremely efficient and reliable. We are now using it for 98 percent of loading. This TLO system is an integral part of our pit to port operation.”

What our clients say

Travis Burton

Port Kembla

“The stockpile modelling and laser optimisation were major factors in our efficiency gains.”

Achieving Compliance with Minimal Impact to Machine Operations

The client was required to update their stockyard machine to a machine anti-collision system. This system also required the machines to operate in close proximity with the reclaimer operating under the Stacker counterweight.

The goal was to achieve compliance with the AS61508 standard, while minimising impact to normal machine operations and easily meeting ongoing proof testing requirements.