1. Introduction to the underground personnel positioning system in coal mines
The underground personnel positioning system in coal mines, also known as the mine personnel positioning management system or mine positioning system, is a comprehensive application system that generally integrates personnel attendance, area tracking and positioning, daily management, trajectory tracing, and electronic fences. Each miner carries a positioning tag, which can be used as a pre installed positioning base station in the mine during underground operations. The positioning base station collects the movement position information of personnel and uploads it to the positioning engine system for calculation and presentation, allowing management personnel to grasp the movement trajectory of personnel at any time for reasonable scheduling and management. Once an accident occurs, rescue personnel can quickly understand the precise location of relevant personnel based on the personnel distribution data and graphics provided by the system, take corresponding rescue measures in a timely manner, and improve the efficiency of emergency rescue work. At present, the system has gradually expanded from personnel recognition to device recognition and other aspects.
There are many types of technologies used in coal mine underground positioning systems, including RFID positioning and WIFI positioning in the past. The latest technology is the use of UWB or UWB composite positioning technology. The reason for using UWB positioning technology is the high accuracy of UWB positioning, which can reach the level of 10cm. Therefore, once an abnormal accident occurs, the accuracy of positioning is related to the success rate of rescue.
2. Design of Coal Mine Underground Positioning System Scheme
The mining personnel positioning (coal mine positioning) management system includes positioning tags, positioning base stations, UWB wristbands, positioning engines, big data platforms, etc. Therefore, in designing the scheme, in addition to considering its functionality, sufficient consideration was also given to stability, reliability, anti-interference ability, fault tolerance, and anomaly protection. The project plan adopts the existing mature Ethernet and POE power supply as the main transmission platform, and is connected to corresponding positioning base stations, personnel UWB positioning tags and other devices and systems. By exchanging the location information of the collected positioning tags in the background data, the tracking and safety management of the operators can be achieved. The overall system design is mainly reflected in:
Effectively identify and monitor the entry and exit of mining operators, so that the management system fully embodies "humanization, informatization, and high automation", and achieves the goal of digital mining/tunnel personnel management.
Provide mining management personnel with management information on personnel access restrictions, attendance operations, monitoring and surveillance, trajectory maps, electronic fences, location alarms, and other aspects. Once a safety accident occurs, it can quickly locate the precise location and number of workers, ensuring efficient operation of emergency rescue and safety rescue work.
The security, scalability, maintainability, and operability of system design.
Easy networking, BS structure, easy to achieve wide area networking monitoring
2.1 Principle of UWB Coal Mine Positioning System
The mining personnel positioning (coal mine positioning) management system is supported by system software from the main computer of the ground monitoring center. Through data transmission interfaces and communication optical/cable laid along the roadway, the installed UWB positioning base station is regularly inspected and information collected. The positioning base station will automatically collect information that effectively identifies UWB tags within a distance, and according to system instructions, transmit relevant data to the ground center station through the transmission network. After analysis and processing of data information, personnel (or moving targets such as locomotives) are dynamically distributed in the main computer interface for real-time reflection, thereby achieving the goal of digital management of safety status in mines.
Following the principle of "unified issuance, unified equipment, and unified management", UWB tags are regarded as necessary work cards, and a "one person, one card" system is implemented for personnel allowed to work.
According to the monitoring requirements of the mine, positioning base stations with directional and time recognition capabilities are installed in tunnels, work faces, and other locations, and are connected to each other through fiber optic data transmission interfaces to form a high-speed industrial Ethernet, thus forming a complete communication line.
After the mining production unit inputs the relevant information of the staff, it issues UWB tag cards to the staff.
The system records the basic information of the person corresponding to the UWB tag card, including name, age, gender, team, occupation, position, personal photo, expiration date, and other basic information.
The staff entering the tunnel must carry a positioning tag with them. When the cardholder passes by the location where the positioning base station is set up, the system will recognize it and read the tag number information. Through the system transmission network, the data such as the road section, time, and coordinate information passed by the staff will be transmitted to the ground monitoring center for data management. At the same time, a prompt message can appear on the geographic information large screen wall, displaying the name of the person passing through. For personnel entering the electronic fence area, the system will automatically sound an alarm. Upon receiving the alarm signal, the on duty personnel of the security monitoring center will immediately execute the relevant security work management procedures.
The production unit can authorize and manage the label card according to the production plan. The scope of authorization includes: the tunnels or work surfaces that the employee can access. To prevent unrelated and illegal personnel from entering tunnels or work areas, the system sets up a time management module for card access to tunnels or work areas, as well as the invalidation and loss reporting of the card.
Once a safety accident occurs in the tunnel, the monitoring center can immediately know the basic situation of the trapped personnel. The rescue team uses receiving devices to easily detect the location of the distressed personnel within a range of 10-30 meters, which facilitates the safe and efficient operation of rescue work and facilitates the development of accident rescue work.
The system can automatically generate statistical and management reports on workflow, improving management efficiency.
2.2 Functions and characteristics of underground positioning system in coal mines
2.2.1 System Functions
2.2.1.1 Real time personnel dynamic display
Query and display the number of people, distribution, and identity of a location at any time.
Query the current actual location and activity trajectory of one or more individuals.
Recording a series of information such as the arrival/departure time and total working time of personnel at any location can supervise and implement whether important inspection personnel conduct on-site inspections on time and at the designated time, or carry out various data detection and processing, fundamentally avoiding accidents caused by human factors.
2.2.1.2 Personnel Mine Attendance Statistics Function
It is possible to conduct statistics on personnel entering and leaving the mine, achieve attendance records for mine personnel, establish and print various information reports on personnel entering and leaving the mine (such as mine time reports, attendance monthly reports, overtime reports, absence reports, etc.), and facilitate the query and management of management personnel.
2.2.1.3 Information Multi point Sharing
The positioning platform and positioning base station can be networked and operated in a local area network manner, enabling all terminals on the network to achieve multi-point information sharing within their usage permissions. This allows multiple departments and leaders of mines to share monitoring information, system comprehensive analysis information, and query various data reports at different locations simultaneously.
2.2.1.4 Electronic fence alarm function
For designated electronic fence restricted areas, if unauthorized personnel enter, a real-time sound alarm will be triggered, and the number and identity of personnel entering the restricted area, as well as their trajectories, will be displayed.
2.2.1.5 Post disaster emergency information
Once various accidents occur, the monitoring center can immediately display the number of card carrying personnel, personnel information, personnel location, and other information at the accident site, greatly improving the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency rescue.
2.2.1.6 Label emergency function
When the UWB tag loses contact with the positioning base station, it can still work independently and automatically store personnel monitoring data.

2.2.2 System Performance Characteristics
2.2.2.1 Powerful system processing capability
Using TDOA positioning algorithm to optimize the system's data processing capability;
Highly automated, with automatic monitoring, statistics, and analysis of information, the entire process does not require human intervention;
Geographic information display and query system based on GIS technology;
● Comprehensive data analysis capabilities;
2.2.2.2 Excellent recognition performance
High recognition reliability, 100% front-end recognition rate;
● Long recognition distance (ground recognition distance can reach 100 meters);
● Extremely high conflict prevention (each detection point can identify up to 10000 personnel simultaneously);
● High recognition stability;
● Fast recognition speed
High positioning accuracy, reaching 10cm
2.2.2.3 On site advantages
Environmental adaptability: high anti-interference ability, no special requirements for interference sources and perimeter environment;
● Installation convenience: The integrated structure design of the positioning base station adopts POE power supply;
● Operational reliability: The internal circuit is highly integrated, minimizing device failure rates.
2.2.2.4 Electrical Characteristics
Ultra low power consumption, wireless tags can work continuously for 3 years without replacing the battery;
● Convenience and safety, positioning tags do not require external mining lamp power supply, and have a long standby time;
No radiation, no impact on human body and environment, safer and healthier

Overview: The underground positioning system in coal mines is UWBPersonnel positioning systemThe above application is of great significance in solving the safety production problems of underground personnel, so it is very worth adopting by mining companies such as coal mines and non-ferrous metal mines to safeguard safety production.