Design and Implementation of an Integrated Wireless Communication, Localization and Monitoring System for Coal Mines
As major areas in the world have been protected with surveillance information with the development of wireless communication technologies, underground mines are still hit by frequent accidents due to insufficient monitoring and sensing, which would be improved with implementation of Internet of Things (IOT). However, a low-power, high reliability wireless communication equipment integrated with personnel localization, underground gas monitoring and IOT functions has not been implemented to enable underground IOT. Having explored wireless technologies and underground communication technologies, we propose in the paper the design of a communication system incorporating wireless call, gas monitoring, personnel localization functions through the integration of ZigBee (IEEE802.15.4) and Ethernet. This system has been realized and tested under laboratory conditions. The system was accepted by China coal mines in principle for application in their coal mine production line.