Application of Millimetre Wave Radar Sensor to Environment Mapping in Surface Mining

This paper presents the application of a millimetre wave radar technology to environment mapping in surface mining. Sensor requirements for ranging and surface profiling in shovel and dragline operations were determined based on machines performance requirements. Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technique was selected to achieve the correct range resolution while Fast Fourier Techniques (FFT) was used to extract the range data from the radar output. Radar data processing was undertaken using Stochastic Environment Representation technique in real-time. The results of field trials show successful radar performance in terms of the system's accurate measurement of excavation terrain, real-time imaging, robuxstness, reliability and penetration through dust and water.