Method and apparatus for monitoring material removal using mobile machinery

Apparatus for monitoring in real time the removal of material from a land site by a mobile machine, comprising:

• digital data storage and retrieval means for storing a site model, the site model including a model of the material to be removed subdivided into regions of differentiating characteristics;
• means for generating digital signals representing in real time the instantaneous position of at least a portion of the mobile machine relative to the site;
• means for sensing the removal of a discrete load of material from the site by the mobile machine and for generating a corresponding loading signal;
• means for recording an instantaneous loading position for the mobile machine relative to the site in response to the loading signal;
• and
• means for measuring the discrete load of material removed and for correlating the measured load to the instantaneous loading position and the characteristics of the site material at the instantaneous loading position.

Apparatus for monitoring in real time the removal of material from a mine or similar site by a mobile machine, and for directing the operation of the machine, comprising:

• digital data storage and retrieval means for storing a site model of the material to be removed, subdivided into regions of differentiating characteristics;
• means for generating digital signals representing in real time the instantaneous position relative to the site of at least a portion of the machine as it traverses the site;
• means for receiving the position signals and for displaying the position of the mobile machine relative to the site in real time;
• means for sensing the removal of a discrete load of material from the site by the mobile machine and for generating a corresponding loading signal;
• means for recording the instantaneous three-dimensional loading position of the mobile machine relative to the site in response to the loading signal;
• means for correlating each discrete load of material removed with the instantaneous loading position and the characteristics of the site material corresponding to the loading position;
• and
• dynamic database means communicating with the digital data storage and retrieval means and the means for generating position signals, the dynamic database means monitoring the path of the machine relative to the site in real time and updating the site model in real time in response to the monitored path of the machine as it traverses the site.

A method for monitoring in real time the removal of material from a land site by a mobile machine, comprising the steps of:

• storing a site model in digital data storage and retrieval means;
• generating digital signals representing in real time the instantaneous position of at least a portion of the machine as it traverses the site;
• sensing the removal of material from the site by the mobile machine and generating a corresponding loading signal;
• and
• recording an instantaneous loading position for the mobile machine relative to the site in response to the loading signal, wherein the site model includes a model of the material to be removed and subdivided into regions of differentiating characteristics, further including the step of correlating the characteristics of the site material at the instantaneous loading position to the material removed by the machine.

A method for monitoring in real time the removal of material from a land site by a mobile machine, comprising the steps of:

• storing a site model in digital data storage and retrieval means, the site model including a model of the material to be removed subdivided into regions of differentiating characteristics;
• generating digital signals representing in real time the instantaneous position in thee-dimensional space of at least a portion of the mobile machine relative to the site;
• sensing the removal of a discrete load of material from the site by the mobile machine and generating a corresponding loading signal;
• recording an instantaneous loading position for the mobile machine relative to the site in response to the loading signal;
• and
• measuring the discrete load of material removed and correlating the measured load to the instantaneous loading position and the characteristics of the site material at the instantaneous loading position.

A method for monitoring in real time the removal of material from a mine or similar site by a mobile machine, and for directing operation of the machine, comprising the steps of:

• storing a site model of the material to be removed, subdivided in to regions of differentiating characteristics in digital data storage and retrieval means;
• generating digital signals representing in real time the instantaneous position in three-dimensional space of at least a portion of the machine relative to the site as it traverses the site;
• sensing the removal of a discrete load of material from the site by the mobile machine and generating a corresponding loading signal;
• recording the instantaneous three-dimensional loading position of the mobile machine relative to the site in response to the loading signal;
• correlating each discrete load of material removed with the instantaneous loading position and the characteristics of the sire material corresponding to the loading position;
• and
• providing dynamic database means communicating with the digital data storage and retrieval means and the means for generating position signals, the dynamic database means monitoring the path of the machine relative to the site in real time and updating the site model in real time in response to the monitored path of the machine as it traverses the site;
• measuring the discrete load of material removed and correlating the measured load to the instantaneous loading position and the characteristics of the site material at the instantaneous loading position.