Space technology for predicting operator fatigueEl Brocal mine truck28 March 2013 Like astronauts, heavy-equipment operators in remote mines can benefit from long- distance monitoring using space technology. An ESA spin-off company has raised safety for dozens of drivers at the El Brocal mine in Peru by predicting their fatigue. In far-flung mining operations around the world, drivers typically work 12-hour shifts, driving trucks and loaders of 160–180 tonnes – the size of a small apartment block. Andes Mou ntains Combine the gruelling schedule with even a small mistake, and you have a recipe for disaster. “Sixty-five percent of serious accidents are caused by fatigue,”says Jean Verhardt, founder and CEO of EstrellaSat. Incubated at ESA With the help of ESA’s Business Incubation Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Jean has developed a way to detect the early signs of fatigue. Sensitive gyroscopes developed for satellites measure tiny changes in the vehicle’s motion, analysing patterns in braking, steering and acceleration. “The system isolates specific movements related to fatigue out of thousands of movements in a given night,” Jean says. “That way, it can predict fatigue before the driver himself is aware of it.”
Transcript
7/30/2019 Space Technology for Predicting Operator Fatigue
El Brocal mine truck 28 March 2013Like astronauts, heavy-equipment operatorsin remote mines can benefit from long-distance monitoring using space technology.
An ESA spin-off company has raised safetyfor dozens of drivers at the El Brocal mine inPeru by predicting their fatigue.
In far-flung mining operations around theworld, drivers typically work 12-hour shifts,
driving trucks and loaders of 160–180 tonnes – the size of a small apartment block.
Andes MountainsCombine the gruelling schedule with even a small mistake, andyou have a recipe for disaster.
“Sixty-five percent of serious accidents are caused by fatigue,” says Jean Verhardt, founder and CEO of EstrellaSat.
Incubated at ESA
With the help of ESA’s Business IncubationCentre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Jeanhas developed a way to detect the early
signs of fatigue.
Sensitive gyroscopes developed for satellites
measure tiny changes in the vehicle’smotion, analysing patterns in braking,steering and acceleration.
“The system isolates specific movements related to fatigue out of thousands of movements in agiven night,” Jean says. “That way, it can predict fatigue before the driver himself is aware of it.”
Communication system with space techBut Jean still needed a way to link the fatigue sensors tosupervisors who could decide when a driver has had enough.
The big obstacle: many mines sit in remote areas without cellphone, or 3G, coverage.
Spin-off from ESA
Jean got support from ESA’s ESTEC space research and technology centre to develop a way tolink the motion sensors on the vehicles to remote offices via wifi and satellite.
Mine driver at work “Our role was to give him tech support,” says ESA communication systems engineer
Nader Alagha.
“We helped to integrate existingtechnologies in an innovative way so hecould develop an effective system.”
Thanks to the expertise from ESTECengineers and elements from their spacesystems, a data link via satellite was
developed to create a constant connection between the fatigue monitor and an office hundredsof kilometres away, where trained staff can evaluate the data in real time from the drivers.
Truck driving made safer in Peru mine
Getting ready for operational serviceFollowing an extensive high-altitude fieldtrial of the Driver Fatigue ManagementSystem, in November 2012 EstrellaSatrecently closed its first contract, and is nowsetting up the system covering 30 driversoperating 10 vehicles at a high-altitude minein the Peruvian Andes.
“We saw during the field trial that keepingdrivers aware of their fatigue status in real
time substantially reduced fatigue levels," says Steve Dixon, Chief Operating Officer, StraconGyM S.A.
"We expect that the fully operational fatigue service will result in a long-term reduction in driverfatigue levels at our mines,”
The next version of the system will draw even more on space technology.
Working with ESA’s human spaceflight directorate, EstrellaSat isnow developing a vest with sensors that measure temperature,heart rate and other physiological data to pinpoint risky fatigue indrivers even more accurately, and in time get them out frombehind the wheel.
ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office’ s Business IncubationCentres (BICs) have been set up to support the spin off of spacetechnology to non-space applications and to foster new Europeanbusiness based on research and development in European spaceprogrammes.
The seven BICs in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, the UK and Belgium are supporting over 60start-ups every year, totalling more than 180 to date.
To support the start-up companies following their BIC-incubation period, ESA has initiated as alimited partner the Open Sky Technology Fund, a €100 million venture fund.
El Brocal mining
Related links
Technology Transfer Programme Office
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/TTP2
Business Incubationhttp://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Technology/Business_Incubation
