Wifi Revolution

Active Control Technology Inc. announced that its ActiveMine has achieved the U.S. federal regulatory approval. ActiveMine is a wireless communications and locating system for mines. Active Control Technology (ACT) designs and markets wireless network control and communication systems required in buildings and in extreme environments.

 

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have approved the safety levels of ActiveMine’s RFID Wi-Fi Tags and has marked it as ‘intrinsically safe.’ The RFID Wi-Fi tags constitute the system, which enable the accurate and real-time tracking of people and assets besides offering auxiliary two-way messaging capability.

 

“Today ActiveMine has completed a major milestone to full U.S. regulatory approval,” said Steve Barrett, president and CEO, Active Control. “Mine operators now have another solid reason to place ActiveMine at the top of their list for communications and tracking systems.”

 

The RFID Wi-Fi Tags can be carried by people or can be attached to high-value mobile mining assets. These can then be tracked within a Wi-Fi coverage area. Tracking systems usually need a separate network of hardware readers or gates for locating tags and ascertaining their positions. However, ActiveMine’s RFID Tags do not require any additional network hardware.

 

Active Control is expecting approvals for its wireless mesh nodes and wireless telephones from MSHA. These are other major components of ActiveMine for which applications have already been submitted.

 

MSHA approves mining equipment and marks them as ‘intrinsically safe,’ which means that it will not create a spark or thermal ignition of methane or coal dust in coal mines.

 

This designation, when given to equipment, means that they are safe to be used in underground coal mines where such conditions occur. This requirement is not necessary for most base metal and precious metal surface and underground mines. Some purchase orders specify such conditions like the regulatory approval from MSHA.

 

ActiveMine has been installed and is operating in coal mines located in West Virginia in the non-gassy sections of the underground mine. The system was approved for sale in June last year in West Virginia by the Office of Miner’s Health, Safety and Training in the state.

 

Active Control plans to exhibit the ActiveMine system with the RFID Wi-Fi Tags at the MINExpo to be held in Las Vegas between Sept. 22-24. The ActiveMine communications, data and tracking system helps in the monitoring of production, personnel and equipment in all types of mining environments like coal mines and base metal mines. The system can operate on a 100 percent wireless Wi-Fi Mesh network. It is not affected by water or mechanical damage like rock fall and it uses open-standards technology.

 

The system meets federal MINER Act requirements for wireless systems as required by MSHA policies. The system enables miners who are underground to stay linked with the others, even if far off from one another. This is possible owing to the system’s unique “Starfish” feature. The system includes wireless communication and data network above the ground which is linked seamlessly to underground networks.

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