The PED Receivers - Covering all possibilities
The PED system, as a paging device, has the ability to contact individuals, groups of personnel or provide a general broadcast to all PED receivers. This could be:
- to make contact with another person
- to give an instruction to evacuate
- a request to go to a different location
- an instruction to attend to a breakdown
- a request to bring equipment or supplies to a particular location
The PED will enhance the total effectiveness of the underground communications network. Specifically, the ability to immediately contact individuals, regardless of their location, will increase the efficiency and safety of underground operations.
The same PED Transmission System used for personal texting utilises other receiver types to:
- remotely initiate blasts (see BlastPED)
- switch equipment, such as fans and pumps, on & off (see ControlPED)
- send a text message to a vehicle regardless of who is driving (see AutoPED)
To expand, these receiver types are:
Personal ReceiversThe Personal PED Pagers (BeltPEDs and ICCLs) are fitted to the miners cap lamp battery. The Personal PEDs will display any message up to 32 characters in length. On reception of a valid message the cap lamp will flash (full to half brightness) and a buzzer will sound. The message is displayed on a backlit Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The units will store two messages. The Personal Pagers can be paged individually, or paged in groups, or all paged simultaneously. |
 |
AutoPED Vehicle Mounted ReceiversThese units are installed in mine vehicles. Due to the shielding effect of a solid steel cabin, and the electrical noise from the alternator, the AutoPED is separated into an external antenna unit and an internal display/receiver unit. The external antenna removes any limitations imposed by the surrounding cabin. The AutoPED, has similar features to the personal PED, additionally it can be connected to the horn or lights to indicate message reception. |
 |
ControlPED ReceiversThese units allow the remote control of devices, such as fans and pumps, underground. More precise time management of these devices will reduce energy consumption. |
 |
BlastPED Receiver InitiatorsThese units are utilised for remote, centralised blasting in hard rock mines. Though the underground version is not generally used in coal mines, this application for blasting demonstrates the high reliability and signal integrity of the PED Transmision System. The BlastPED unit uses capacitor discharge into the firing line, thereby initiating electric detonators. The BlastPED system has several levels of security, both hardware and software, to ensure safe operation. |
 |