Underground vision [automated surveying robotics]

Abstract

Automating the surveying process offers the opportunity to see a mine in a whole new light. This article introduces a laser scanner with a robotic vehicle for scanning mines. The robot is a combination of laser scanning instrumentation with wireless communications and robotic technology in the form of a remote surveying vehicle (RSV), to make data capture much faster and improve the range and coverage of measurements, as well as safeguarding the survey personnel. This technology has several advantages for mine surveying, such as higher precision, easy access to hazardous areas, self-levelling ability, etc.