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Made-in-Sudbury robotic arm designed to save lives

TesMan develops tech in response to mining death
Remote Loading PrototypePhoto1_660
Sudbury-based TesMan Inc. has developed a remote loading technology arm that would allow underground miners to load explosives into the rock face of a mine without putting themselves in danger. Supplied photo.

A robotic arm for underground miners that could help avoid fatal accidents could be commercialized by the end of the year if Sudbury-based TesMan Inc. has its way. 

The consulting firm and mining technology company has developed a remote loading technology arm that would allow underground miners to load explosives into the rock face of a mine without putting themselves in danger.

The need for the technology was brought to light after the Jan. 29, 2012, death of Vale miner Stephen Perry.

Perry, 47, was struck and killed by a 14-tonne wedge of rock that dislodged from the 36 West rock face at the 4,215-foot level Coleman Mine on that date.

Perry had to stand right next to the Coleman Mine's rock face to load explosives into holes his colleagues had drilled earlier.

A February 2016 inquest determined his death was accidental, and did not place any fault against Vale, Perry of any of his colleagues for the tragic incident.

“As you saw in the inquest there was no fault of blame,” said TesMan co-owner Rod Steele. “Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”

But witnesses during the inquest, including Ministry of Labour inspector Shaun Carter, said Perry would still be alive today if he had been able to load the explosives from a safe distance.

In his testimony, Carter told the five-person jury that bolting and meshing the rock face could have saved Perry's life, but the most effective deterrent would have been for him to work a safe distance, at least six feet or more from the heading.

Before the inquest even started, Vale and the United Steelworkers Local 6500 started a joint investigation, and came up with 16 recommendations to ensure a similar incident would never reoccur in their mines.

The one recommendation Vale has not yet completed was to develop technology that would allow for a remotely controlled loader, that would keep the operator a safe distance from the rock face.

Thanks to funding from Vale, Glencore and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation – which provided $75,000 to help develop a prototype – TesMan is now close to having a commercial version of its robotic arm available for any mining company that wants to purchase it.

Steele said the latest prototype for the robotic arm is around 15 feet in length and can be attached to any loading basket used by the mining industry.
An operator can control the arm from the basket, which would remain a safe distance from the rock face.

Steele said he would like to further automate the final version of the arm – so it can automatically find the drill holes meant to house the explosives – and also plans to extend the arm's length slightly. 

Vale and Glencore have already told Steele they plan to purchase the commercial versions and use the robotic arms in their Sudbury mines. 
 


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Jonathan Migneault

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