Abstract: Methods and systems determine at least one production constraint for a material loading system and a material processing system; estimate an effect of entropy on a cycle time of a material conveying system to produce a future cycle time estimate; estimate an effect of entropy on a material processing time to produce a future material processing time estimate; predict whether a delay will occur during the operation of the material loading, material conveying, and material processing systems; estimate a duration of the predicted delay; determine a loading system capacity and a conveying system capacity required to meet the defined production target based on the production constraint and estimates of the future cycle time, the future material processing time, and the duration of the predicted delay; and deploy one or more material loading and conveying systems to meet the determined loading and conveying system capacities.

Abstract: Methods of deploying shovels and haul trucks to meet a defined production target may include: Determining at least one production constraint for a shovel and a material processing system; estimating an effect of entropy on a cycle time of the haul trucks to produce a future cycle time estimate; estimating an effect of entropy on a material processing time of the material processing system to produce a future material processing time estimate; predicting whether a delay will occur during the operation of the shovel, the haul trucks, and the material processing system; estimating a duration of the predicted delay; determining a number of shovels and a number of haul trucks required to meet the defined production target based on the determined production constraint, the future cycle time estimate, the future material processing time estimate, and the duration of the predicted delay; and deploying the determined number of shovels and the determined number of haul trucks.

Abstract: Methods and systems of correlating sensed position data with terrestrial features receive sensed position data from a position sensing system operatively associated with a moveable object; select a reduced set of snap point candidates from terrestrial data based on a sensed position point; choose a best snap point candidate from among the reduced set of snap point candidates based on a plurality of predictive variables and corresponding weighting factors for each snap point candidate in the reduced set of snap point candidates; and snap the sensed position point to the best snap point candidate to produce a snapped position point. The selecting, choosing, and snapping processes are performed in substantially real time so that the systems and methods correlate the sensed position data from the moveable object with terrestrial features in substantially real time.

Abstract: Methods and systems determine at least one production constraint for a material loading system and a material processing system; estimate an effect of entropy on a cycle time of a material conveying system to produce a future cycle time estimate; estimate an effect of entropy on a material processing time to produce a future material processing time estimate; predict whether a delay will occur during the operation of the material loading, material conveying, and material processing systems; estimate a duration of the predicted delay; determine a loading system capacity and a conveying system capacity required to meet the defined production target based on the production constraint and estimates of the future cycle time, the future material processing time, and the duration of the predicted delay; and deploy one or more material loading and conveying systems to meet the determined loading and conveying system capacities.

Abstract: Methods and systems of determining and controlling a vehicle travel speed on a roadway determine a grade of the roadway at defined intervals along the roadway; calculate a maximum straight line vehicle speed for each defined interval based on the determined grade and vehicle performance data; determine a radius of curvature and a superelevation of the roadway for each defined interval; determine a lateral friction coefficient for a vehicle/roadway system; calculate a maximum cornering vehicle speed for each defined interval based on the curvature, superelevation, and lateral friction coefficient; calculate the travel speed for each defined interval based on the maximum straight line vehicle speed and the maximum cornering vehicle speed; and control the speed of the vehicle so that it does not exceed the calculated travel speed for each defined interval.

Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include the steps of: Defining a two-dimensional grid comprising a plurality of grid points at defined locations; rounding the satellite position data to the nearest grid point of the defined two-dimensional grid to create an amplitude data table, each rounded satellite position data point in the amplitude data table defining a reference grid point value; matching the terrestrial survey data to at least four adjacent grid points of the defined two-dimensional grid to create a terrestrial coordinate table; merging the amplitude data table and the terrestrial coordinate table based on the reference grid point values to form a merged table; searching the merged table to identify the grid point with the minimum distance between an (x,y) location and an (rx, ry) location; and snapping the (x,y) location to a snapping point.

Abstract: Methods and systems of correlating sensed position data with terrestrial features receive sensed position data from a position sensing system operatively associated with a moveable object; select a reduced set of snap point candidates from terrestrial data based on a sensed position point; choose a best snap point candidate from among the reduced set of snap point candidates based on a plurality of predictive variables and corresponding weighting factors for each snap point candidate in the reduced set of snap point candidates; and snap the sensed position point to the best snap point candidate to produce a snapped position point. The selecting, choosing, and snapping processes are performed in substantially real time so that the systems and methods correlate the sensed position data from the moveable object with terrestrial features in substantially real time.

Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in adjusting the travel speed for the vehicle to minimize the time over target value.

Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include: Using a geometric snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to the terrestrial features; determining whether the satellite position data can be snapped to unique terrestrial features; and using a hybrid space-time snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to unique terrestrial features when the satellite position data cannot be snapped to unique terrestrial features.

Abstract: A method of designing an underground excavation may involve the steps of: Developing a plurality of input parameters for the underground excavation; performing a first design iteration to determine an initial ground support system design; evaluating a kinematic stability of the initial ground support system design; determining whether the kinematic stability meets a predetermined factor of safety; and reiterating the initial ground support system design until the kinematic stability meets the predetermined factor of safety.

Abstract: A system for determining road quality includes a vehicle equipped with sensors to detect a position of the vehicle on the road and a suspension strut parameter indicative of road quality. The suspension strut parameter may be suspension strut pressure or suspension strut cylinder stroke. A threshold range is established outside of which an absolute value of the suspension strut parameter is associated with poor road quality. A computerized system generates a heat map to display relative quality of road segments.

Abstract: A method of determining a cause of a performance deficiency of a vehicle may include: Determining whether the vehicle is operating in a defined load condition; comparing an actual vehicle performance parameter with a predetermined baseline performance parameter for the defined load condition; comparing a plurality of key indicator values of the vehicle with a predetermined specification for each of the plurality of key indicator values; concluding that the performance deficiency is the result of a mechanical condition of the vehicle when at least one of the key indicator values is outside of the predetermined specification for a corresponding key indicator value and when the actual vehicle performance parameter is outside of the predetermined baseline performance parameter; and concluding that the performance deficiency is the result of an operational condition when none of the key indicator values is outside of the predetermined specification for the corresponding key indicator value and when the actual vehi

Abstract: A system for operating a fleet of off-road vehicles may include a network. A plurality of sensors operatively associated with the fleet of off-road vehicles and connected to the network sense information related to the operation of a plurality of off-road vehicle systems. A processing system operatively connected to the network collects sensor data from the off-road vehicles; combines sensor data from the vehicle systems in accordance with a user-defined event; determines whether the collected and combined sensor data are inside or outside defined limits of the user-defined event; produces an alarm signal for a user when the collected and combined sensor data are outside the defined limits of the user-defined event; and recommends modification of the operation of vehicles for which an alarm signal has been produced. A display system operatively associated with the processing system displays at least information relating to the recommended modification.

Abstract: A cable handling apparatus may include a frame and a first cable jaw mounted to the frame. A second cable jaw is pivotally mounted to the first cable jaw so that the first and second cable jaws may be pivoted with respect to one another between an opened position and a closed position. A lock assembly operatively associated with the first and second cable jaws locks said first and second cable jaws in the closed position.

Abstract: A method of operating a fleet of off-road vehicles may include: Collecting sensor data from the off-road vehicles, the sensor data being related to the operation of a plurality of vehicle systems; combining sensor data from the vehicle systems in accordance with a user-defined event; determining whether the collected and combined sensor data are within or without defined limits of the user-defined event; producing an alarm signal for a user when the collected and combined sensor data are without the defined limits of the user-defined event; and modifying the operation of vehicles for which an alarm signal has been produced.

Abstract: A system for optimizing a travel speed of an off-road vehicle utilizes time-over-target values as a threshold indicator for diagnostics and subsequent remedial actions. A road used for haulage is divided into a plurality of predetermined road segments. A target transit time is defined for each of the predetermined segments to provide a target speed curve. An actual transit time values is measured for the off-road vehicle in transiting the road. A comparison outcome is generated by comparing the target transit time value with the actual transit time value. The comparison outcome is useful in diagnosing causes of operation trouble and in scheduling remedial action to address the operational trouble.

Abstract: A method of correlating satellite position data with terrestrial features may include: Using a geometric snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to the terrestrial features; determining whether the satellite position data can be snapped to unique terrestrial features; and using a hybrid space-time snapping algorithm to correlate the satellite position data and terrestrial survey data and snap the satellite position data to unique terrestrial features when the satellite position data cannot be snapped to unique terrestrial features.

Abstract: A cable handling device may include a clamp assembly having a first member having a jaw end and an arm end and a second member having a jaw end and an arm end. The first and second members of the clamp assembly are pivotally connected together so that when the arm ends are moved away from one another the jaw ends move away from one another and vice-versa. A proximal end of a first elongate electrically insulated handle is mounted to the arm end of the first member of the clamp assembly. A proximal end of a second elongate electrically insulated handle is mounted to the arm end of the second member of the clamp assembly.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing SO.sub.2 from low-volume gas streams containing high concentrations of SO.sub.2 includes a tank scrubber containing an aqueous SO.sub.2 absorbent and an impeller. The tank scrubber has an unpartitioned vessel. The impeller includes a vertical rotating shaft having an upper and lower impeller. The lower impeller serves to agitate the SO.sub.2 absorbent. The upper impeller includes a shroud thereby directing the absorbent and gas outwardly toward the wall of the scrubber. The gas is injected into the absorbent at a point below the shrouded impeller. The shroud prevents gas bypass and thereby promotes gas-liquid mixing and, consequently, markedly improves SO.sub.2 removal efficiency.

Abstract: In accordance with the method of this invention, sulfur is removed from the gas stream exiting a sulfur storage tank through condensation and impingement of droplets and/or particles of elemental sulfur on the baffles and wall(s) of indirectly cooled scrubber-condenser. In order to effect the melting and return to the liquid sulfur storage tank of any sulfur collected on the baffles and wall(s) of the scrubber-condenser, said baffles and wall(s) are periodically heated, preferably with indirect steam. The scrubber-condenser apparatus of this invention is designed to effect the condensation and solidification of sulfur from the gas stream and to maximize the impingement of sulfur droplets and particles upon its baffles and internal wall(s) by repeatedly changing the flow direction of said gas stream. The scrubber-condenser is vertically mounted on a liquid sulfur storage tank and is connected directly to a vent located on top of the tank.