IoT for Mining: How Tech4LYF Built a Scraper Blade Monitoring System in Chennai

  1. Introduction

  2. Challenges in Chennai’s Mining Operations

  3. Why IoT Is a Game Changer for the Mining Sector

  4. Tech4LYF’s Vision for Mining Automation

  5. Project Overview: Scraper Blade Angle Monitoring System

  6. Hardware Architecture Used

  7. Firmware and Sensor Calibration

  8. Cloud Integration and Real-Time Dashboard

  9. Alerts, Thresholds, and Safety Logic

  10. Results Achieved in the Mining Field

  11. Benefits of Using IoT for Mining Equipment

  12. ROI and Cost Reduction for Chennai Mines

  13. Feedback from Field Engineers

  14. Future Scope: Predictive Maintenance & AI Integration

  15. Final Thoughts on IoT for Mining in India


1. Introduction

IoT for mining has emerged as a powerful solution for operational safety, performance tracking, and predictive maintenance. Chennai-based Tech4LYF has pioneered a real-time scraper blade monitoring system that’s currently deployed in active mines across Tamil Nadu. This is more than a case study—it’s a blueprint for industrial transformation.


2. Challenges in Chennai’s Mining Operations

Before IoT implementation, mining firms faced:

  • Inaccurate blade position monitoring

  • Frequent breakdowns due to misalignment

  • No real-time alerts or condition-based insights

  • Safety risks due to blade tilt or failure

  • Manual logging prone to error and delays

These challenges resulted in downtime, higher costs, and safety violations.


3. Why IoT Is a Game Changer for the Mining Sector

With Internet of Things, mining firms can:

  • Monitor equipment conditions in real-time

  • Send automatic alerts on angle deviation

  • Reduce dependency on manual inspection

  • Collect operational data for predictive maintenance

  • Improve worker safety and productivity

IoT shifts mining from reactive to proactive management.


4. Tech4LYF’s Vision for Mining Automation

Tech4LYF envisioned a plug-and-play solution to monitor scraper blade angles using:

  • Wireless sensor nodes

  • Real-time dashboards

  • Custom alerts

  • Field-validated hardware enclosure

  • End-to-end control from device to cloud


5. Project Overview: Scraper Blade Angle Monitoring System

Objective:
Monitor and visualize scraper blade angles in real-time to reduce wear and downtime.

Key Features:

  • Tilt angle detection using IMU sensors

  • MQTT-based data transmission

  • Web dashboard with threshold alerts

  • Offline buffering support

  • Waterproof and vibration-resistant hardware casing


6. Hardware Architecture Used

Component Description
ESP32 Wi-Fi + BLE microcontroller for edge computing
MPU6050 6-axis motion sensor for tilt and acceleration
SIM800L GSM module for remote data upload (fallback)
Li-ion Battery 3.7V with charging protection
Custom PCB Designed in-house for rugged conditions
IP67 Enclosure Dustproof and waterproof for mining environment

7. Firmware and Sensor Calibration

  • Kalman Filter used for angle smoothing

  • Auto-calibration on startup with Z-axis alignment

  • Real-time sampling: 5/sec

  • OTA update support via HTTP

  • Built-in watchdog for crash recovery


8. Cloud Integration and Real-Time Dashboard

Feature Details
Protocol MQTT over TLS
Backend Node.js + MongoDB
Frontend React.js + Chart.js
Data History Up to 6 months per device
User Roles Admin, Field Engineer, Supervisor
Dashboard Mobile + Desktop views with export to Excel

9. Alerts, Thresholds, and Safety Logic

  • Yellow Alert: Blade tilt exceeds 15°

  • Red Alert: Blade tilt exceeds 30°

  • Real-time SMS/email to supervisors

  • Daily report via WhatsApp PDF

  • Thresholds configurable per machine type


10. Results Achieved in the Mining Field

  • 20% reduction in blade wear

  • 80% drop in unplanned shutdowns

  • Field team saved 25 hours/month in manual checks

  • Safety incident probability decreased by 40%


11. Benefits of Using IoT for Mining Equipment

✅ Remote visibility
✅ Predictive maintenance
✅ Data-driven decisions
✅ Reduced energy and material waste
✅ Better insurance compliance
✅ Transparent audits and documentation


12. ROI and Cost Reduction for Chennai Mines

  • Initial cost: ₹18,000 per unit (volume-based pricing)

  • Payback period: < 2.5 months

  • Estimated annual savings: ₹3.6 Lakhs per site

  • Additional bonus: Increased equipment lifespan by 18%


13. Feedback from Field Engineers

“We used to inspect manually twice a day. Now, I just open the app and get everything instantly.”

“Zero failures in 90 days.


14. Future Scope: Predictive Maintenance & AI Integration

Next upgrades include:

  • Vibration analytics with ML models

  • Blade stress estimation based on movement patterns

  • AI-generated maintenance predictions

  • Auto-ticketing when thresholds breach


15. Final Thoughts on IoT for Mining in India

Tech4LYF is setting new standards in IoT for mining with reliable, affordable, and scalable hardware + software systems. As more Indian mines explore digitization, Chennai is leading the way with homegrown innovation that fits real field conditions.

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