MagneLink Magnetic Communication System (MCS)
MagneLink™ Magnetic Communication System (MCS) is a wire
less, through-the-earth communication system developed by Lockheed Martin to meet the mining industry’s post-accident emergency wireless communications requirement. MagneLink MCS works by transmitting magnetic waves through the earth without the transmission wires and in-ground infrastructure currently required to communicate via standard radio communications. It is portable and provides wireless two-way, voice and text communications, and operates at ranges sufficient to communicate from the surface into shallow-to-deep underground mines.
The system will bring a tremendous emergency communications capability to the mining industry in the event of an accident where miners are trapped and have no other means of communicating with rescue teams on the surface. Lockheed Martin has leveraged its advanced communications and signal processing expertise to successfully develop this unique system in coordination with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to help save miners’ lives where possible following a mine accident.
Lockheed Martin recently conducted three successful MagneLink MCS in-mine demonstrations.
In December 2009, the MagneLink MCS Engineering Development Model’s functionality for voice and text communications was successfully demonstrated at a commercial mine in Dilliner, Pa.
In March 2010, Lockheed Martin tested MagneLink MCS at the Contrary Portal of CONSOL Energy’s Buchanan Mine in Mavisdale, Va. The system demonstrated successful two-way text and voice communications to a depth of 1550 feet and two-way text communications in excess of 1550 feet.
In June 2010, MagneLink MCS in-mine demonstrations were conducted at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Test Mine in Bruceton, Pa. The system interfaced with hand-held radios similar to the miner emergency radios and successfully functioned as a multi-band receiver, establishing communications with multiple MagneLink MCS units without the requirement for the MCS units to be on the same channel to receive transmissions.
Lockheed Martin and the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are currently working to certify the equipment for use in mines. MagneLink MCS systems will be available following MSHA certification.
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