Project

• Vehicles operated in the mining industry are installed with strobe lights and alarms to make them safer to operate on the job site.
• Underground mining companies use as many as six different peripheral devices per vehicle for various contexts on site.
• The Mine Safety Light aims to reduce time and labor costs to install these devices by combining them into one easy-to-install system.
• The system uses a controller to select which lights and alarms to activate based on the needs of a driver.
• This project aims to investigate power flow techniques and control to improve the reliability of systems like this one for the safety of miners in the industry.

System

Methods

• Uses a programmable logic controller programmed using ladder logic.
• Lights actuated using relays to guarantee reliable circuit control.
• Strobing effect produced using NE555 timer circuit.
• Controller states changed by driver using switch module installed in a vehicle’s cab.

Conclusion

The Mine Safety Light demonstrates that cost-effective methods for improving safety in industry can still be innovated and improved upon.

What Was Learned?

• Ladder logic
• Integrated control of power systems
• Circuit protection techniques
• Product development considerations

What’s next?

• Add more features like a whip light
• Design and print PCBs to further increase system reliability
• Streamline the manufacturing process of the system
• Increase the customizability to be able to serve more companies