Tracking Boss

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Tracking Boss

• By Pyott-Boone Electronics
• Tazewell, Virginia
• [phone]

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Why You Should Consider PBE Tracking

• Pyott-Boone Electronics
• Serving the Mining Industry for 36 years.
• Monitoring solutions for safety and productivity.
• Communications solutions using both standard
  paging telephones and VHF/UHF radio leaky feeder
  systems.
• User friendly Monitoring and Control Systems for
  the last 22 years.
• Over 250 monitoring systems sold to mines all
  over the U.S.
• Knowledge of West Virginia and MSHA tracking
  system requirements.
• Providing service beyond the sale for many years
  with 24 / 7 on call availability.

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Meeting the Requirements
W. Va. Requirements Satisfied   9.13.1. A
communication center monitored at all times
during which one or more miners are
underground.   The PBE Tracking Boss system
utilizes the PBE MineBoss software package for
display. If the system is installed with a cable
backbone all connections are made at the computer
in the communications center. If data is
transmitted over a Leaky Feeder system a modem is
installed in the LF rack and connected to the
RS-232 port on the computer.   9.13.2. Knowing
the location of all miners immediately prior to
an event by tracking/locating device in the
escape-ways, normal work assignments, or
notification of the communication center   To
meet this requirement it is our understanding a
reader must be placed in each escapeway to
distinguish the exact location of the miner.
Otherwise a reader installed in the crosscut of
one entry will detect tags travelling in adjacent
entries. A zone configuration is desireable by
placing readers on all entrances to designated
areas in order to pick up tags as they enter the
zone from any direction.   9.13.3. Knowing the
location of miners in the escapeways after an
event providing the tracking system is still
functional   Again it is our understanding a
reader must be placed in each escapeway to
distinguish the miners exact location. Each
reader contains a backup battery capable of
providing 96 hours of operation.   9.13.4.
Check-in and check-out with the communication
center by miners prior to entrance and exit from
bleeders and remote or seldom used areas of the
mine (all times shall be logged)   All
personnel required to leave the normally
monitored zones will continue to be listed on
the computer screen in the last area they were
detected in until they enter the detection field
of any reader in the system thus updating their
location.
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Meeting the Requirements (contd)
9.13.6. Maintaining communication/tracking after
loss of outside power and maintain function both
inby and outby of the accident event site with
suitable supply of equipment for rapid
reconnection   Each reader contains a backup
battery capable of providing 96 hours of
operation. Surface equipment will be backed up by
either a UPS for the computer or the battery
backup in the leaky feeder rack. Depending on the
type of communications used to install the system
the mine should keep either a few thousand feet
of copper wire and spare connection interfaces or
a few spare data radio modems for connection
repairs plus a 3-4 spare readers.   9.13.7.
Maintain a surface supply of communication/trackin
g devices for use by emergency rescue
personnel   The Mine will be asked to keep a
minimum of tags equal to 5 of the number of
personnel and equipment being tracked and as
mentioned above several spare readers.
Additionally Pyott-Boone Electronics will
maintain a stock of tags and readers sold to West
Virginia mines and be on call 24/7 in the event
of an accident or system failure to supply all
needed equipment.   9.13.9. All miners and likely
emergency responders shall be trained in the use,
limitations and inter-operability of all
components of the communication and
tracking/locating system. This shall be
incorporated into ongoing required training. All
training shall be recorded and made available
upon request   Pyott-Boone Electronics and its
authorized sales agents will provide the Mine
personnel and likely emergency responders
sufficient training as part of the system
installation to be able to troubleshoot and add
to the system as mining advances. On an annual
basis the mine will be contacted to hold a
refresher course for all old and new Mine
personnel on the systems operation. At that time
we will aid them in evaluating the system to
ensure no changes to the zone configurations
should be made.
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Current Approval Status

• MSHA
• Tagging System submitted September 24, 2007.
• At MSHAs request the Tag was submitted
  separately on October 1, 2007.
• West Virginia
• Tested per WV MSHT requirements at Massey Energy
  Jerry Fork Eagle mine at up to 700 feet from
  reader to tag in the primary escapeway and
  approximately 300 feet in the main track
  conveyor entry as well as 300 feet through a
  block stopping in a crosscut. Tags were also
  successfully detected 100 around a coal pillar
  adjacent to the readers location.
• During teleconference on October 15, 2007,
  approval was verbally granted and results are to
  be posted on the WV MSHT website in the near
  future.

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WV Testing Results
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Miner to Reader - Test Site G
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Miner to Reader - Test Site H
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Miner to Reader - Test Site I
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Miner to Reader - Test Site J
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Miner to Reader - Test Site K
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Miner to Reader - Test Site L
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WV Testing Results (contd)
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Reader to Surface - Test Site A
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Reader to Surface - Test Site B
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Reader to Surface - Test Site C
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Reader to Surface - Test Site D
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Reader to Surface - Test Site E
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WV Testing Results (contd)
Reader to Surface - Test Site F
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Description of the system
The PBE Tracking Boss system is an active type of
tagging system developed with 3 major priorities
reliability, performance and affordability. The
tag is powered by a single AA battery with a life
expectancy of 18-24 months and is fully
encapsulated, therefore is a disposable item.
The tag enclosure is designed with the intention
of being worn on a mine belt or suspender but can
be easily mounted onto any piece of underground
equipment by magnet or adhesives. The tag
broadcasts its ID number at periodic intervals
for maximum battery efficiency. The readers are
9-24 VDC with battery backup and interchangeable
communications options. Currently the system is
able to operate by VHF or UHF radio modem to
leaky feeder systems. However we are also
developing interfaces for the readers to
communicate over copper pair via the Pyott-Boone
320 and 4800 Baud protocols or standard RS-232,
there will also be a fiber optic cable interface
as a fifth communications option. Typically
readers are located at both ends of every
designated zone and continuously transmit tag
IDs and time of detection to the surface. The
Pyott-Boone MineBoss program manages the data
received from the readers and provides a
real-time display of all tags at the mine. Miners
will be shown as on the surface once they exit
the mine and while underground be listed in the
zone associated with the reader that last
detected their tag. Tags can also be used for
tracking vehicles and equipment throughout the
mine.
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Interoperability
The Pyott-Boone Tracking Boss will have more
communications options than any product we have
ever produced. With a total of six communications
mediums including both the PBE 320 and 4800 Baud
protocols, standard RS-232, VHF and UHF two way
radio signals, and direct Fiber Optic connections
it can be installed into any mining or industrial
environment. If a pre-existing data system in the
mine is certified as Intrinsically Safe our
system can share whatever infrastructure is in
place once MSHA approval is acquired. However,
the system will also be fully stand alone
capable. This includes the ability to communicate
over any data capable leaky feeder system whether
it be the MineCom system Pyott-Boone represents
or a competitive communications system.
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System Diagram
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Wireless Configuration
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Wired Configuration
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Current Mine Map from MCS
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Reader and Tag Status Screen
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Alarm and Status Screen Tag in alarm
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Alarm and Status Screen
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Status and Logfile screens
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Logfile screen
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MCS Screens
Screens may change as Version 1 and Version 2
software are released
Information input and Tag information viewing
screen
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Training
Pyott-Boone Electronics and its authorized sales
agents will provide training as part of the
system installation. Once this training is
complete mine personnel will be able to
troubleshoot and expand the system as mining
advances. Most mines contact us on an annual
basis to hold a refresher course for all old and
new Mine personnel on the operation of our
systems. At that time we would also aid them in
evaluating the system to ensure no changes to the
zone configurations should be made. Additionally
we are always available for additional training
classes throughout the year and do welcome
customers to send people to our office for in
house training. A users manual is provided with
the system for general overview of the hardware
and software. An interactive Help system will
also be developed for the MineBoss software
module explaining common controls and
informational data.
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Model 1980 Tag
Tag (MODEL 1980) Mechanical
Specifications Dimensions 2-5/16 X 2-1/16 X
1-3/8 Transmitting LED Indicator (Blue,
asynchronous beacon) Panic Pushbutton   Electrica
l Specifications Transmitting Frequency 924
MHz Power 3.6 VDC High Energy Lithium
Battery Output Power 100 mW max, 35-50 mW
average Tag I.D. 10 bits Data Integrity 8
bit CRC  
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Model 1981 / 1982 Readers
Tag Reader (MODEL 1981 VHF and 1982
UHF) Mechanical Specifications Dimensions 10
X 8 X 5 structural foam thermoplastic
enclosure Input Power 9-24 VDC, approx. 60mA _at_
20 VDC Antennas 900 MHz antenna 155-175 MHz
antenna (Model 1981 only) 430-470 MHz antenna
(Model 1982 only) Electrical
Specifications Receiving Frequency 924
MHz Operating Voltage 9-24 VDC Power AC
with Battery Backup (no charge management) Batter
y 7Ah Lead Acid Battery (96hrs
backup) Communications Board PBE Part
Number RF Adapter VHF 005-0511-003 (1981
Only) RF Adapter UHF 005-0512-003 (1982
Only)  
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Model 1983 Reader
Tag Reader (MODEL 1983) Mechanical
Specifications Dimensions 10 X 8 X 5
structural foam thermoplastic enclosure Input
Power 9-24 VDC, approx. 60 mA _at_ 20
VDC Antenna 900 MHz antenna Electrical
Specifications Receiving Frequency 924
MHz Operating Voltage 9-24 VDC Power AC
with Battery Backup (no charge management) Batter
y 7Ah Lead Acid Battery (96hrs
backup) Communications Platforms 4800 Baud, 320
Baud, RS-232 Fiber Optics   Communications
Board PBE Part Number 320 Baud 005-0411-002
4800 Baud 005-0412-002 RS-232 005-0518
-002 Fiber Optics 005-0513-002
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Model 1960 / 1961 LF Head Ends
  Head End Interfaces (MODEL 1960 VHF, 1961
UHF)   Mechanical Specifications Dimensions 18
X 8 X 3.5 RF Connectors (2) Type N
Connectors Communications Connector DB-9 Front
Panel Indicators (1) Power Indicator
  Electrical Specifications Input 110
VAC PC Input RS232 TX Output FSK Carrier,
Modulated at 22 kHz onto a Differential
Manchester Waveform RX Input Receives FSK,
22 kHz Modulated signal on a Differential
Manchester Waveform Input Power 12-24
VDC UHF 440 / 465 MHz, 0.5 W max, 100 kHz
BW VHF 159 / 173 MHz, 1.0 W max, 100 kHz BW
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Model 1925 / 1928 PSUs
 Model 1925 Power Supply  Mechanical
Specifications Dimensions 10 H x 8 W x 5
D Front Panel Indicators (1) Power Indicator
  Electrical Specifications Input 110
VAC Output 24 VDC / 3A Model 1928 Power
Supply  Mechanical Specifications Dimensions
12 H x 10 W x 6 D Front Panel
Indicators (1) Power Indicator   Electrical
Specifications Input 110 VAC Output 17 VDC
/ 0.85 mA (Meets Intrinsic Safety Requirements)