Miner Tracking System

1. Miner Tracking System Group 28 Brent Floyd Steven Judd Chad Smith

2. Introduction • Design miner location system to aid in the event of an emergency • System uses RFID tags and wireless transmitters to relay who/where information back to a database program

3. Motivation • Motivated by the recent tragedies in WV, Canada, and Mexico • Rescue efforts were hindered by unknown locations of trapped miners

4. Objectives • Provide real-time location of all miners • Use existing power supplies to operate all devices • Provide emergency backup in case of power failure • Decrease rescue team’s response time

5. The Miner Tracking System

6. Block Diagram

7. RFID Tags • Tags placed along mine walls/roof • Unique tag ID corresponds to specific location • Passive tags keep cost low

8. Helmet Module • Includes Circuitry for reader, transmitter, and power converters • Designed to eventually be as a small box attached to their battery

9. Helmet Module (Schematic)

10. Helmet Module (Reader) • TI RFID Series 2000 Micro-Reader • Supply Voltage: 9V • Supply Current: 100mA • Operating Frequency: 134.2 kHz • RS232 Output • 47 µH antenna • Used to read tag IDs

11. Helmet Module (Transmitter) • Takes RS232 signal from reader • Converts to TTL using Max232 chip • Broadcasts converted signal to wireless network using XBee transmitter

12. Helmet Module (Power) • Use existing 12V battery to supply unit • 3 DC/DC converters used to supply 9V, 5V, 3.3V to Reader, MAX232, XBee • Total Power: 1.33W

13. Helmet Module (Power) • 3.3 VDC Voltage Regulator Circuit • Other voltage sources use same design different parameter values

14. Wireless Network • Implemented by an array of Xbee nodes • Intended to be a mesh network for increased reliability • Implemented point-to-point network due to limitations in current version of chip

15. Wireless Network • Powered by battery back-up circuit that converts existing mine power to 3.3 VDC • For demonstration / testing used 2 AA batteries per node

16. Battery Back-up • 2 modes: Battery charging, Battery back-up • Utilizes existing 120VAC power • Over 24 hours of back-up power

17. Battery Back-up

18. Computer Interface • Receiver collects signals from wireless network • Converts signal to RS232 via Max232

19. Computer Database • Microsoft Access Database, programmed with Visual Basic • Takes RS232 Data from COM port • Enters into database and updates the map with real-time locations

20. Component Testing (XBee) • Range Testing Indoors/Outdoors • Input voltage range: 1.9-3.4V

21. Component Testing (RFID Tags) • TI sent multiple types of tags • For future testing only B and D tags should be used

22. Component Testing (Power)

23. Component Testing (Back-up) • Verified output with AC power on • Verified output with AC power off • XBee worked continuously while plugging and unplugging AC power supply • After 24 hours output voltage was 2.7V

24. System Testing • 2nd floor Everitt • 1 roaming helmet node • 3 relay nodes • 1 computer node • 6 Tags • Successful reading/transfer of all 6 locations

25. Ethical Issues • Dependability: The system, in its current state, is not 100% failsafe, and should not be implemented until that testing is complete. Its intent is to save lives and must not fail in time of need. • MSHA: Thoroughly go over guidelines for permissibility testing and safety

26. Successes • Small scale proof of concept • Removal of interface boards • Battery back-up integration • Database performance

27. Challenges • Power circuits • Reliability of helmet circuitry • Wireless network limitations

28. Recommendations • Update XBee with mesh network capabilities • Make database separate executable • Longer range RFID reader • Increase scope of testing (underground, more nodes, etc.)

29. Credits • Professor Carney • Alex Spektor • Texas Instruments • National Semiconductor • Supertex Inc.

30. Questions?