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Lockheed Martin Tests Underground Mine Communications System (7/22/10)
Lockheed Martin conducted an in-mine test of its MagneLink magnetic communication system (MCS) at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) test mine in Bruceton, Pa., June 15 –16.
MagneLink MCS is a wireless, through-the-earth communications system developed to meet the mining industry's post-accident emergency communications requirement. The system provides voice communications and texting to give trapped miners fail-safe communications during a catastrophe.
The system works by transmitting magnetic waves through the earth without the transmission wires and in-ground infrastructure required to communicate via standard radio transmissions. It is a portable, two-way, voice- and text-capable emergency communications system operating at ranges sufficient to communicate from the surface into deep underground mines.
"During the test, MagneLink MCS performed superbly," said Warren Gross, program manager. "The system interfaced with handheld radios similar to the miner emergency radios (MERs) and functioned as a multiband receiver, establishing communications with multiple units without the requirement for the units to be on the same channel to receive transmissions."
MagneLink MCS will bring a significant emergency communications capability to the mining industry in the event of an accident where miners are trapped and have no other means of communicating with rescue teams on the surface, company officials said.
"Lockheed Martin has leveraged its advanced communications and signal processing expertise to successfully develop this unique system in coordination with NIOSH to help saver miners' lives following a mine accident," Gross said.
Lockheed Martin previously conducted two additional MagneLink MCS in-mine tests. In December 2009, the functionality for voice and text communications was successfully demonstrated at a commercial mine in Dilliner, Pa. In March, Lockheed Martin tested the product at the contrary portal of CONSOL Energy's Buchanan Mine in Mavisdale, Va. The system demonstrated successful two-way voice communications to a depth of 1,550 feet and two-way text communications to a depth in excess of 1,550 feet.
Lockheed Martin and the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are working to certify the equipment for use in mines. The system will be available following MSHA certification.
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