Written by: Habiba Ibrahim

Safety, efficiency, and sustainability are top priorities in the ever-evolving mining industry. Thermal imaging technology, when integrated with autonomous robots like Oinride’s AutoJoe®, offers a revolutionary approach to mining operations. This technology provides valuable insights into equipment health, safety hazards, and energy efficiency, significantly enhancing overall capabilities.

What is Thermal Imaging?

Thermal imaging technology detects infrared radiation (heat) emitted from objects and converts it into visible images. Specialized cameras equipped with heat-sensitive sensors capture this radiation, creating thermal images that show areas of heat intensity. Key principles include:

• Infrared Radiation: All objects emit infrared radiation based on temperature. Thermal cameras capture this and convert it into a temperature map.
• Color Mapping: Thermal images often use color gradients to represent temperature differences. Warmer areas appear red or yellow, while cooler areas are blue or purple.

Thermal Imaging’s Impact on Mining Operations

Given its diverse applications, thermal imaging plays a crucial role in mining, where safety and minimizing downtime are paramount.

Benefits of Thermal Imaging in Mining:

• Predictive Maintenance:
  • Early Detection of Hot Spots: Prevent costly equipment failures by identifying areas of excessive heat.
  • Motor Health Monitoring: Detect motor overheating early to avoid catastrophic failures and ensure smooth operations.
  • Hydraulic System Monitoring: Pinpoint leaks or blockages in hydraulic systems, reducing downtime and optimizing fluid usage.
• Safety and Security:
  • Fire Detection: Early detection prevents catastrophic events and minimizes damage, safeguarding personnel and assets.
  • Person Detection: Effective detection of personnel in areas with limited visibility enhances overall safety and security.
• Energy Efficiency:
  • Identifying Heat Loss: Visualize areas of heat loss to identify potential improvements for energy efficiency.
  • Optimizing Insulation: Pinpoint poorly insulated areas to reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs.

Integrating Thermal Imaging with AutoJoe®

Integrating thermal imaging cameras with Oinride’s flagship robot, AutoJoe®, creates an advanced solution for maximized automation and efficiency in mining operations. In underground operations, thermal imaging combined with AutoJoe®’s advanced sensors provides a clear vision regardless of the environment. 

Benefits of AutoJoe® with Thermal Imaging:

• Remote Monitoring: AutoJoe® conducts real-time monitoring of equipment health and safety conditions, allowing for proactive management.
• Predictive Maintenance: Maintenance scheduling becomes more effective with insights derived from thermal data.
• Enhanced Safety: Increased potential for detecting hazards like overheating or fires leads to a safer work environment.
• Optimized Energy Efficiency: Identify energy loss and pinpoint opportunities for improvement.

Conclusion

The combination of thermal imaging and Oinride’s robotic solution AutoJoe® represents a significant leap forward for the mining industry. By leveraging the capabilities of technologies like AutoJoe® alongside thermal imaging, mining companies can unlock new levels of operational excellence while demonstrating a commitment to environmental responsibility.

References: 

[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128033845000038 

[2] What is Thermal Imaging? Thermal Cameras and How They Work | Fluke. 

[3] https://infraredcameras.com/industries-served 

Written by: Habiba Ibrahim

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a versatile analytical technique that utilizes intense laser pulses to vaporize a small amount of material. The resulting plasma emits light at specific wavelengths, which are characteristic of the elements present in the sample. By analyzing the emitted light spectrum, LIBS can identify and quantify various elements in a sample, making it a valuable tool for various applications.

How LIBS works:
LIBS utilizes a high-powered laser to vaporize a small portion of a sample’s surface. This process generates a plasma cloud composed of excited atoms, ions, and electrons. As these particles cool down, they emit light at specific wavelengths, characteristic of the elements present in the sample. A spectrometer then captures and analyzes this emitted light, allowing for the identification and quantification of various elements. By carefully controlling laser energy and employing advanced calibration techniques, LIBS can achieve remarkable sensitivity, detecting elements at extremely low concentrations.

LIBS VS LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)

Both LIBS and LA-ICP-MS employ lasers to vaporize a small portion of a sample. However, they differ in their subsequent analysis methods. LIBS directly measures the light emitted by the vaporized material to determine its elemental composition. In contrast, LA-ICP-MS transports the vaporized material to a plasma source, ionizes the elements, and then analyzes them using a mass spectrometer.

Laser ablation involves focusing a pulsed laser onto a specific area of the sample, vaporizing a small amount of material. The ablated material is then carried into an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch, where it is ionized into a plasma state. The resulting ions are extracted from the plasma and accelerated into a mass spectrometer. This instrument separates the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and a detector measures their abundance to determine the elemental composition of the original sample.

Both LA-ICP-MS and LIBS are powerful analytical techniques, but they have different strengths and weaknesses:  

 

Feature	LIBS	LA-ICP-MS
Element Measurement	Excels in measuring light elements like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen	Stronger in heavy element detection
Speed and Mobility	Faster analysis and simpler setup	Slower analysis and more complex instrumentation
Cost	More cost-effective	Higher operational costs
Applications	Wide range of applications, including geology, environment, and mining	Primarily used in research and specialized analytical labs
Depth Profiling	Easier to perform depth profiling	More complex depth profiling

 

Both LA-ICP-MS and LIBS provide valuable information for material analysis, but LIBS stands out as the preferred option across many industries due to its speed, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. LIBS streamlines the analysis process and produces reliable, detailed results, establishing it as a trusted method for elemental analysis globally. Whether the task involves detecting specific elements, conducting quick on-site assessments, or obtaining detailed depth profiles, LIBS consistently offers outstanding performance and value.

LIBS Technology with AutoJoe®:

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is revolutionizing the mining industry by providing fast, accurate, and comprehensive elemental analysis. Integrated with Oinride’s flagship autonomous robot, AutoJoe®, LIBS offers unprecedented capabilities in the field, from real-time mineral assessment to environmental monitoring. Here’s how LIBS and AutoJoe® are reshaping the mining landscape.

Real-time Mineral Analysis

Mining companies benefit significantly from real-time insights into mineral composition, and LIBS technology is ideal for this purpose. LIBS can analyze ore in the field, identifying valuable mineral deposits on the spot. AutoJoe®, equipped with LIBS, can instantly relay this data, allowing mining teams to make on-the-go decisions to optimize operations, increase yields, and reduce waste.

Grade Control

Ensuring high-quality material extraction is crucial for maximizing profitability. LIBS enables precise monitoring of ore grade, allowing teams to verify that only valuable material is extracted. By deploying AutoJoe® with LIBS capabilities, mining operations can maintain consistent grade control, thus improving productivity and minimizing the extraction of low-value material.

Exploration

The exploration phase of mining is often time-intensive and costly, but LIBS technology can significantly streamline this process. LIBS can rapidly identify mineral deposits, cutting down on exploration time and associated expenses. With AutoJoe® deployed in the field, equipped with LIBS for rapid mineral detection, companies can reduce exploration costs while improving the chances of finding profitable deposits.

Enhanced Safety

Mining environments pose various hazards, from toxic gases to unstable geological formations. AutoJoe®’s integration with LIBS technology adds an essential layer of safety by detecting these potential risks before human workers enter the area. This proactive approach not only prevents accidents but also ensures a safer working environment for the entire team.

Improved Operational Efficiency

LIBS enables on-the-spot analysis of mineral composition, which allows for optimized processes like crushing, grinding, and separation. With real-time insights from AutoJoe® on the material being processed, mining teams can fine-tune their procedures to increase efficiency and lower costs, ultimately enhancing overall productivity.

Environmental Monitoring

Environmental responsibility is more critical than ever, and mining companies must adhere to strict regulations. LIBS offers powerful environmental monitoring capabilities, from assessing soil composition to analyzing water quality. With AutoJoe® providing continuous monitoring in the field, mining companies can ensure regulatory compliance while minimizing environmental impact.

Conclusion

The integration of LIBS technology with Oinride’s autonomous mining robots like AutoJoe® marks a new era in mining. The combination of real-time mineral analysis, enhanced safety, efficiency, and environmental monitoring offers a comprehensive solution for modern mining challenges. As mining companies seek sustainable and productive ways to operate, AutoJoe® with LIBS stands as a vital asset in driving the future of the industry.

References: 

[1] How LIBS Stands Out Against LA-ICP-MS | AtomTraceAtomTrace. 

[2] LIBS going places in mining – AMTIL

[3]Laser induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for new product development in mining industry – ScienceDirect

[4]Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) .  

[5] Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)