Automated Positioning Systems (APS) - High Precision GPS Machine Guidance for Mining and Earthmoving Equipment

APS is a Brisbane, Australia based company providing high-precision machine guidance products for mining and earthmoving equipment. We also provide equipment and systems to support machine guidance such as wireless LAN connections to mobile equipment.

APS products feature a computer display in the operator's cab showing plan and cross section views of the job with the digging tool (bucket, blade, drill bit) correctly shown to scale. Text information displays the distance to design.

MACHINE GUIDANCE PRODUCTS FOR MINING AND EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT

APS systems have been installed on drills, graders, excavators, dozers, draglines, scrapers, front end loaders, barges and bucket wheel excavators. We can custom install to fit particular machines.

Depending on equipment size, accuracy achieved varies from 35mm to 150mm at the digging tool.

Applications of our APS systems include:

• Digging to design - with machine guidance all equipment operations are done to a design - eliminating wasted effort and cutting costs
• Selective mining - APS systems allow precise selective mining even where there is no visible difference between ore and waste. At Century Mine installation on excavators resulted in a significant jump in mill head grades
• Smoother ramps and benches - use of machine guidance results in smoother benches and ramps significantly shortening truck cycle times, reducing spillage, increasing tyre life and cutting costs
• Civil works - use of machine guidance eliminates field pegging and mistakes and dramatically improves productivity. For example, APS equipped dozers recently completed golf course construction
• Mined land reclamation - use of machine guidance allows reclamation to design faster and at lower cost than with traditional surveying. Features such as contour drains can be formed as part of the bulk earthmoving instead of as an afterthought
• Productivity measurement - because we know where the bucket or blade has been, APS software can calculate productivity for each piece of equipment in the fleet, in real time
• Hazardous Areas - machine guidance systems can warn of approaching hazards such as blasting areas or old underground workings

STOCKPILE DOZERS

Machine guidance on stockpile dozers keeps the operator from penetrating the base and warns of close approach to hazardous areas such as reclaimers.

MINING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

APS Software is designed to be easy to use. The display uses a rugged, daylight readable touch screen, allowing the operator to interface to the software to change select views or input data. The software is fully developed with troubleshooting routines, and a variety of features designed for mining applications.

APS hardware is designed to withstand the heat, dust and vibration found on hard working mining machines. The hardware has been fully tested and is backed by a one year warranty. Maintenance contracts are also available.

SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS

APS products are powered by Topcon GPS technology. APS receivers can be configured to receive signals from the Russian GLONASS satellites as well as the US satellites. When available APS will offer Galileo as well, powered by Topcon G3 (GPS, GALILEO and GLONASS).

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

APS can supply a wide range of ancillary equipment:

• Base reference stations for GPS corrections
• Telemetry systems UHF and 900MHz spread spectrum
• Wireless LAN systems - fully meshed IEEE 802.11x installed on mining equipment
• Wireless LAN bases and repeater stations.
• Office software