Smart Helmet Using RF Technology for Underground Mines

Abstract

The underground mines all over the world are adversely affected by various hazards including gaseous explosions, landslides, fire hazards, etc. This leads to the significance of safety for the mine workers. A better communication technology has to be employed for an intelligent sensing and warning system. For this, RF technology is chosen for the communication inside the mines. The wireless sensor network is provided for the sensing of adverse working environment conditions. Combining both these technologies, a new smart helmet module is developed. The wireless sensor network consisting of various sensors senses mine environment parameters like temperature, pressure, humidity, gases like methane, carbon monoxide, etc. The measured parameters are processed and are used for an early intelligence warning system with the help of programmed alarm sounds, if there is any serious deviation from the normal parameter value range. The RF technology is also used as locating system, which helps in locating the mine-workers. This RF based wireless sensor network is reliable with easy installation and fast sensing and locating system. The design provides three modules, namely helmet module, localizer module, and control room module. The helmet module comprises of various sensors, microcontroller, antennas, encoders, decoders, etc. The helmet module acts as an intelligent, low power node in the wireless sensor network. The control room module contains antennas, PC, decoder, etc. The sensors are used to measure the variations in the temperature, humidity, pressure, fire and take decisions for required actions based on the measured data to ensure the safety of the underground mine workers. The RF technology also ensures the localization of the mine workers for their safety in a dangerous working platform. Thus the proposed system ensures safety and a reliable wireless communication inside the underground mines.