Evolution of Applicability of Robotics in Underground Mine Services

Abstract

Mining is one of the most hazardous and hostile occupations in the world. Even though a lot of hazards are associated with this industry, mining of both fuel and mineral based deposit from earth is necessary for the economic growth of the nation, maintaining a low cost of production by avoiding import and gaining independence from other mineral rich and technologically advanced nation for its day to day requirements of minerals. But, the industry must keep in mind that it should adopt the policy of safety first than production in the context of a large number of dangers which are associated with mining activity and must take necessary action to avoid such unwanted events from happening. Though safety standards in current mining industry scenario have improved by providing training sessions to miners regarding safe and better work practices and using better machines for stabilization of mining structure and extraction. But still disaster tends to happen in mines worldwide and rescue of miners and mining machinery is the first task that is performed by industry by sending rescue team without prior knowledge about underground mine environmental condition since post-disaster installed mine environment monitoring is either damaged or destroyed. Subsequently, sending mine rescuers will be dangerous and may cause even bigger disaster from happening which is evident in past. Therefore, the mining industry is now relying upon robotics for mine disaster rescue management to assist human rescuers and avoid further exposure to dangerous post-disaster underground mine environment. This paper gives an overview of applicability of robotics in mine disaster rescue management.