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Ruggedized MOBOTIX Cameras for the Mining Industry

Product News Thursday, February 14, 2013: IAC - Industrial Automation & Control (Pty) Ltd

Ruggedized MOBOTIX Cameras for the Mining Industry

In the Mining industry, environmental conditions are extremely harsh. Video cameras are playing an increasingly important role in surveillance and management of mining systems and controls. Nowadays mines also use digital cameras to monitor the flow of products on conveyor belts, equipment surveillance in yards, and prepared blast sites. Cameras operating in these severe environmental conditions above and underground, must endure the destructive effects of dust, dirt, fine particles, dampness and corrosion, which threaten the camera’s performance. Given these environmental risks, it only make sense that these cameras must be exceptionally rugged and durable. That is why investing in a high-quality, rugged camera, designed for use in harsh environments is a wise business decision. 

Consider, for example, the deleterious effects the following common environmental conditions can have on a camera: 

• Temperature Extremes
• Chemical Exposure
• Humidity Levels
• Physical Hazards 

Rugged conditions call for ruggedized solutions and even the best conventional cameras are not made to handle such conditions over time. The only problem is – where to find a video camera that operates reliably under such conditions? 

Mobotix Cameras are designed to be robust in order to operate seamlessly in a harsh mining environment where large amount of dust, and temperatures reaching up to 50°C (122°F), are common. Sturdiness is one of the core design principles of MOBOTIX cameras. To achieve this, the cameras do not have any moving parts such as zoom, pan or tilt mechanisms. Here, the MOBOTIX cameras really have a chance to shine: Without any moving parts, these cameras are so robust that maintenance is reduced to a minimum. Their unique temperature range from -30°C to +60°C is achieved without heating or fans and with a consumption of only three to four watts, ensuring their reliability and keeping the operating costs low. Another important criterion is the solid, integrated design of the Mobotix cameras. All outdoor MOBOTIX camera models fulfils the requirements of the IP66 equipment protection category. This makes it an ideal choice for the extreme environmental conditions that prevail in mines. Conventional cameras with moving mechanical parts often fail to work reliably under such conditions. 

The intelligent Mobotix M24 IP camera can survive even under the most extreme of industrial environments. The M24 is capable of providing clear indoor and outdoor as well as day and night visualization without missing a beat. Key specifications for these ruggedized cameras include: 

• IP66 rating requires no additional heating or housing
• Robust and weatherproof with temperature operation of -30 º to 60 º C
• No moving parts - ideal for harsh environmental applications such as mining;
• PoE (Power over Ethernet)
• Intelligent Camera with Video Motion Detection and Event Trigger
• 3 Megapixel resolution
• Day and Night Image Sensor
• Wide Range of applications from 180° –panorama webcam to video security
• Integrated DVR with HiRes video recording without network load
• Software Included 

Mobotix cameras currently operate in several mines in South Africa, some of the most hostile environments in the world.

Conclusion: The most effective and cost-effective path to ensuring long-term performance and reliability of video cameras in the mining industry is to find and invest in ruggedized cameras designed for use in harsh and demanding environments. 

For more information, contact Raine Sadie, IAC (Pty) Ltd, +27 (0)12 657 3600, raine@iacontrol.co.za