Having a vehicle compliant with the standard will take the pressure off mine managers, who are otherwise responsible for risk testing and authorising non-compliant vehicles to enter their mines.

Innovative Underground Transport is a Queensland company founded by experienced underground coal miner Tim Muller, who saw a need for safer transport vehicles in the sector.

The company is a spin-off from Queensland Underground Coal Mining Services (QUCMS), which developed IUT to concentrate on developing vehicles for underground coal mines.

IUT project manager Geoff Phillips said the prototype vehicle is a modified design of a standard Toyota Troop Carrier and can be used in areas of negligible explosive risk zones (NERZ) in underground coal mines.

The vehicles are fitted with sensors, located around the bodywork and in the engine bay, which relay information back to a central processor.

In the event that an anomaly is detected, such as explosive gas, a trespass, a faulty sensor or blocked radio signal, the processor will issue a warning, and/or shut the engine down, bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop with the emergency brake.

In line with the Australian standard 3584, design and manufacturing controls of the vehicle regulate the temperature of certain components, ensuring they do not exceed 150C – a necessary safety measure in a high-explosive environment.

The vehicle also incorporates Western Australian braking technology specialist Safe Effect’s Sealed Integrated Braking System (SIBS) – enclosed wet disc brakes that operate at low temperatures.

If any part of the vehicle is overheating, the vehicle will simply stop.

Sophisticated software also regulates on-board fire suppression, as well as the vehicle’s location and speed.

The location system can monitor and control the position of the vehicle in relation to radio transmitters located within mine areas.

The transmitters can prompt the vehicle’s central processor to issue a warning if the vehicle is about to move into a hazardous area or where speed limits are imposed, making the vehicle shut down or slow down accordingly.

The company expects to have the prototype ready for compliance testing and certification in September this year and has already identified local and international markets that would support the vehicles.