Legislation mandating the use of pedestrian detection systems came into being in South Africa in 2015, driving the deployment of Booyco Electronics’ locally manufactured systems on local mines.

Booyco Electronics’ fully integrated PDS represents the latest generation of this technology and offers a supply of information, which allows the safety intervention capability coupled with a data hub that enables integration with trackless mobile machinery and other OEM underground vehicles and equipment. Each PDS is deployed based on application specific risk assessments ensuring that it is fit-for-purpose.

Anton Lourens, managing director of Booyco Electronics, says the company’s PDS incorporates very low frequency technology for pedestrian detection either on surface or underground together with GPS technology for vehicle detection on surface. It delivers specific warning, controlled slow-down and stopping zone alerts around a vehicle when detecting pedestrians or other vehicles. This is unique in that it is able to achieve zone shaping and create narrow band zones in close proximity on the side of vehicles.

It features full self-diagnostics, and has visual and voice display activated in the case of a PDS warning or a system failure. The technology incorporates various downloading options for recorded data including wireless when at an access point. It is supplied complete with testing equipment for both the surface and underground areas to ensure maximum functionality.

Lourens says the company has also developed a high processing power controller. It acts as a processing gateway and all sensing technologies and informational data is channelled through this. “This enables the user to create the requisite artificial intelligence which is fed to the control systems of the trackless mobile machinery on a site.”

Importantly, it facilitates the enormous inflow of information, the processing thereof and then the presentation of it in a simple, easy to understand manner.

Research and development in the field of PDS will continue unabated, considering Booyco Electronics’ ongoing interaction with mines and its participation in initiatives, such as The Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table forum.

Participation at EMESRT, for example, has also allowed the company to gain insight into the global requirements for PDS equipment and share its own extensive experience gained over more than ten years in this sector with leading international mining houses. “It is satisfying to be able to collaborate with these organisations in terms of the strides Booyco Electronics has made with its technology,” Lourens concludes.