Determining an operating area for a vehicle

An apparatus for operating a mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

• transmit an indication to a monitoring system configured to control access to an isolated working area isolated using one or more passage control units that include a mechanism configured to perform passage control, wherein the indication indicates that the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually is to enter the isolated working area, and wherein one or more autonomous work machines are located within the isolated working area;
• receive, from the monitoring system, information regarding an operating area comprising at least one of a route area or a working area for the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, wherein the operating area is located within the isolated working area;
• receive, from the monitoring system, an access permission to the operating area located within the isolated working area;
• and
• cause the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually to proceed to the operating area located within the isolated working area.

A method for controlling access to an isolated working area isolated using one or more passage control units that include a mechanism configured to perform passage control, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication, wherein the indication indicates that a mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, is to enter the isolated working area;
• determining, based at least partly on the indication, an operating area for the mining vehicle, wherein the operating area is located within the isolated working area, and the operating area located within the isolated working area comprises at least one of a route area or a work area associated with the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually;
• reserving the operating area located within the isolated working area for the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, wherein reserving comprises imposing access restrictions to the operating area located within the isolated working area;
• and
• indicating, to the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, an access permission to the operating area located within the isolated working area.

A method for operating a mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, the method comprising:

• transmitting an indication to a monitoring system configured to control access to an isolated working area isolated using one or more passage control units that include a mechanism configured to perform passage control, wherein the indication indicates that the mining vehicle is to enter the isolated working area, and wherein one or more autonomous work machines are located within the isolated working area;
• receiving, from the monitoring system, information regarding an operating area comprising at least one of a route area or a working area for the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, wherein the operating area is located within the isolated working area;
• receiving, from the monitoring system, an access permission to the operating area located within the isolated working area;
• and
• causing the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually to proceed to the operating area located within the isolated working area.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program instructions which, when executed in a data processor causes an apparatus to perform at least the following:

• receive an indication, wherein the indication indicates that a mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, is to enter the isolated working area isolated using one or more passage control units that comprise a mechanism configured to perform passage control;
• determine, based at least partly on the indication, an operating area for the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, wherein the operating area is located within the isolated working area, and the operating area comprises at least one of a route area or a work area associated with the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually;
• reserve the operating area for the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, wherein reserving comprises imposing access restrictions to the operating area;
• and
• indicate, to the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, an access permission to the operating area located within the isolated working area.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer program instructions which, when executed in a data processor causes an apparatus to perform at least the following:

• transmit an indication to a monitoring system configured to control access to an isolated working area isolated using one or more passage control units that comprise a mechanism configured to perform passage control, wherein the indication indicates that the mining vehicle is to enter the isolated working area, and wherein one or more autonomous work machines are located within the isolated working area;
• receive, from the monitoring system, information regarding an operating area comprising at least one of a route area or a working area for the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually, wherein the operating area is located within the isolated working area;
• receive, from the monitoring system, an access permission to the operating area located within the isolated working area;
• and
• cause the mining vehicle that is at least partly operated manually to proceed to the operating area located within the isolated working area.