Thermal imager for a mine vehicle

An imaging system for enhancing situational awareness during movement of an underground mine vehicle which comprises:

• a forward viewing thermal camera sensor mountable on an end of the vehicle to provide a Field of View (FOV) covering a predetermined area;
• a display monitor mountable on the vehicle at a vehicle driving station for displaying a view of the area in front of the vehicle during a movement of the vehicle;
• and
• a transmission line connecting the thermal camera sensor to the display monitor.

A method for manufacturing an underground mine vehicle having an imaging system for enhancing situational awareness during vehicle movement comprising the steps of:

• providing a vehicle dimensioned for movement through a mine shaft, wherein the vehicle has a front end and a rear end with a driving station located therebetween;
• forming a bed on the vehicle for carrying a material;
• mounting a forward viewing camera sensor on the front end of the vehicle to provide a first Field of View (FOV) covering a predetermined area in front of the vehicle as the vehicle moves in a forward direction;
• mounting a backward viewing camera sensor on the rear end of the vehicle to provide a second Field of View (FOV) covering a predetermined area to the rear of the vehicle as the vehicle moves in a reverse direction;
• and
• attaching a display monitor to the vehicle at the driving station for selectively viewing the area in front of the vehicle and the area to the rear of the vehicle during a movement of the vehicle.