Hexagon launches HxGN Mine VIS, a vehicle intervention system

13 JUNE 2017– Hexagon AB, a leading global provider of information technologies that drive productivity and quality across geospatial and industrial enterprise applications, today announced the launch of HxGN Mine VIS, a vehicle intervention system that detects and prevents collisions by automatically slowing down or even stopping a haul truck if an imminent collision is detected. HxGN Mine VIS will be officially unveiled today at HxGN LIVE 2017, Hexagon’s international conference hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Leveraging industry-leading technologies from Hexagon Mining, Mine VIS is an additional layer of safety on top of the Collision Avoidance System, (CAS) helping to avoid incidents, injuries, and fatalities. Mine VIS manages traffic in the pit and, by reacting when and if operators do not, it ensures safety rules are followed.

Hexagon President and CEO, Ola Rollén, said, “Safety demands more than just partial solutions. Mines can be dangerous places. Heavy traffic, large equipment, and poor visibility all create the potential for accidents. Mine VIS is a significant enhancement to a safety portfolio that can save customers from the costly consequences of accidents. It improves CAS by taking control of a machine if the operator does not react appropriately to a CAS warning.“

CAS provides drivers of large vehicles with 360°-proximity detection at any speed and in all conditions via cabin display units. It is installed in more than 25,000 vehicles in over 60 mines worldwide.

Mine VIS can take control of the machine in certain defined situations if the operator does not react appropriately to the initial CAS warning. The system can act depending on the situation, either by inhibiting propulsion, activating the retarder, or applying the service brake.

True to Hexagon’s integration strategy, Mine VIS can also be used in conjunction with the company’s fatigue-detection, alerting, and reporting solution, FatigueMonitor. It uses the same sensors and user interface to protect the customer’s initial investment. Hexagon Mining worked closely with an OEM to realize this vision of a last-resort system that mitigates the consequences of a collision.

Mine VIS is being installed in Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen mine in South Africa. The company contacted Hexagon Mining after conducting an extensive risk assessment of its operation to understand major risks. Together with the customer, Hexagon Mining defined a step-by-step approach to develop a solution. Mine VIS is timely in South Africa where government regulations will compel surface mines to implement such systems on heavy machine equipment by June 2019.