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| Voids in coal stockpiles can entrap bulldozer operators |
Background
Approximately 500 bulldozers in the U.S are used to facilitate drawdown at the top of coal stockpiles. Environmental conditions, coal compaction, and other factors can result in voids in stockpiles which can entrap these machines. Since 1980, there have been 19 fatalities at coal stockpiles, the majority being bulldozer operators. Efforts by MSHA and others have led to the development of improved cab designs, high strength windows, and communications which have proven to save operator lives during dozer cover-ups. Providing remote control of the dozer has the potential to totally eliminate the danger to the operator by removing him/her from the machine. Previous attempts in the U.S. to remotely control the dozer were never fully implemented due to a variety of issues. One drawback was that the operator, when removed from the dozer, lost the feel of the machine. This resulted in significant inefficiencies during remote operation compared with on-board control.
Addressing this, NIOSH is engaged in research aimed at mimicking the feel of the machine by adding visual, audio, and vibratory feedback. The approach is to provide the remote operator with sufficient sensory cues so that he/she thinks they are actually operating the dozer on-board. The research project is a collaborative effort with a dozer manufacturer, Caterpillar, and a coal operator, ConsolEnergy. Caterpillar has provided the bulldozer with remote-controls and ConsolEnergy has provided access to their Eighty-Four stockpile. The hypothesis to be tested is that a simulated environment with visual, audio and motion feedback will enhance acceptance of remote control operation of dozers on coal stockpiles.
Potential Outcome
Upon project conclusion, recommendations will be formulated that can be used as guidance for stockpile operators contemplating conversion to remote-control. It is envisioned that the prototype hardware developed by NIOSH will be adapted and sold commercially by bulldozer manufacturers. A successful demonstration could ultimately lead MSHA to recommend remote control of dozers on stockpiles and in the long term, to an increased adoption of this method. This would result in a reduction of incidents and fatalities from dozer cover-ups by removing the dozer operator from the stockpile.