Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of a mining operation includes obtaining measurements of at least two of: a volume of mined material removed from terrain by an excavator; a volume of the mined material carried in a bucket of the excavator after removal of the material from the terrain; and a volume of the mined material deposited by the bucket in a truck tray. The method includes alerting an operator of the excavator to a possible spillage or carry-back condition if a difference between the at least two volume measurements exceeds a threshold value. Another method includes determining an optimum dipper trajectory in response to measurements of a height and radial profile of a terrain bank, a position of the excavator relative to the bank and a target volume of material to be extracted into a bucket of the dipper during the dig cycle.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for calculating the mass of material in an excavating machine bucket including receiving, by a controller, distance data. The distance data is the distance between a distance sensor mounted on the excavating machine and a target positioned on an arm of the excavating machine. Moreover, the method includes receiving torque data for a rotating hoist drive shaft in the excavating machine. The torque data is generated by a torque sensor positioned about the shaft. Furthermore, the method includes calculating frontend geometry of the excavating machine. The excavating machine includes at least one rope. Additionally, the method includes calculating a rope force in the at least one rope using the torque data and calculating the mass of material in the excavating machine bucket using the calculated frontend geometry and the rope force.