Remote control and automation are playing an increasingly important role in caving operations. Automated ore chute control and remote controlled machines to bring down hang ups are just two examples.

Truck drivers at Newcrest Mining's Telfer underground gold mine can now activate block cave chute doors from a safe location after the company adopted an innovative infrared remote control system from Remote Control Technologies (RCT).

Instead of chute operators standing on an overhead gantry near the trucks and activating the chutes via adjacent hard wired umbilical controls, they now tele-operate the chutes from the safety of their cabs.

Control is through an infrared TX/RX system that obviated the need for radio signals and licences. The short-range system suffers no interference from mine radio or other signals.

Benifits of Remote Control via hand valve :

• works without mains supply
• longer working with the charged accumulator
• simple execution

• position of the operation changeable
• easier to operate at larger dimensions of the transport load (in general is the cable length 2 m around the switch box)
• detachable cable remote control
• switch condition recognizable via the position of the mushroom shaped key
• switch condition recognizable via the position of the mushroom shaped key
• hand made robust housing for the operation key
• screwed down with the device via a screw-type locking connector (cannot be lost easily)