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ARTICLE · 16 MARCH 2011

CRCMining and SmartCap

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The Cooperative Research Centre for Mining (CRCMining) has developed a baseball cap headware technology to measure and manage drowsiness in real time, in order to overcome a significant driver fatigue problem in the coal mining industry.

AustraliaIntellectual Property
John Forster
John Forster
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The Cooperative Research Centre for Mining (CRCMining) has developed a baseball cap headware technology to measure and manage drowsiness in real time, in order to overcome a significant driver fatigue problem in the coal mining industry.

Known as the SmartCap Operator Fatigue Management System, the baseball cap technology solves a problem identified in the mining industry and is expected to be of much wider benefit to other workplaces where fatigue is a major concern.

Supported by CRCMining member Anglo American Metallurgical Coal (AAMC), the SmartCap has evolved from a field-proven prototype in 2008 to commercial trials in 2010. AngloAmerican is currently deploying the driver headware to its heavy vehicle drivers and heavy machine operators at its coal mine sites across Australia, and CEO Cynthia Carroll has confirmed deployment to mines in other countries will follow during 2011.

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