Application of radio-frequency identification systems to collision avoidance in metal/nonmetal mines

Collisions between haulage equipment and pedestrian workers or other vehicles claim an average of five lives each year in surface and underground metal/nonmetal mining operations, Many more workers are severely injured. Although technologies exist that could prevent these collisions, (radar, closed-circuit TV, and backup alarms), they do have limitations and are not being used widely. New developments in radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems show promise for reducing the number of collisions. This paper, originally presented in 1998, describes tests conducted on off-the-shelf RFID systems and the subsequent development of a custom RFID system that could be used for both surface and underground mining equipment.