Optical Tracking for Mining

How RockFeel Uses PST Iris for Intelligent Mining Systems

Modern mining operations are becoming increasingly automated to improve efficiency, sustainability, and operator safety. To support these developments, machines require accurate real-time motion data.

RockFeel, a German technology company specializing in intelligent sensing solutions, uses PS-Tech’s PST Iris optical tracker to monitor cutter head movement and support advanced machine analytics for mining and excavation applications.

By combining intelligent sensing with high-precision optical tracking, RockFeel can analyze machine behavior, detect wear conditions, and support automated material recognition.

Optical tracking for mining

The Challenge: Tracking Equipment in Harsh Mining Environments

Mining and excavation equipment operate under continuous vibration, dust exposure, changing weather conditions, and heavy mechanical loads. Under these circumstances, conventional measurement systems often struggle to provide reliable data.

For RockFeel, accurately measuring cutter head movement is essential. The company needs to correlate machine motion with material properties, wear conditions, and cutting behavior in real time.

The tracking solution must provide accurate 6DoF position and orientation data while operating reliably on large mobile equipment in outdoor environments.

Why PST Iris Was Chosen

Applications like these require a tracking system that can cover large working volumes while maintaining high accuracy.

PS-Tech’s PST Iris was particularly well suited for this application.

The long-range optical bar tracker offers:

  • Accurate 6DoF tracking
  • Long operating distances
  • Real-time data acquisition
  • Support for custom active LED targets

To further optimize the solution, PS-Tech supported the integration of custom active LED targets that enable reliable tracking over extended distances.

This combination allows RockFeel to accurately monitor cutter head movement during both controlled testing and outdoor field trials.

Optical Tracking in Outdoor Mining Applications

Optical tracking is traditionally associated with indoor environments because sunlight can interfere with infrared marker detection. By combining PST Iris with custom active LED targets, PS-Tech enables reliable outdoor tracking for mining applications.

RockFeel can accurately monitor cutter head movement and correlate machine motion with material interaction, demonstrating that optical tracking can operate far beyond controlled laboratory environments.

iris with laptop outdoor
PST Iris and a laptop is all the equipment needed

Enabling Intelligent Machine Monitoring

Accurate spatial data is only the beginning.

By combining sensor measurements with precise optical tracking, RockFeel can generate valuable insights into machine performance.

The collected data supports:

  • Wear Detection  – Early identification of wear patterns helps prevent unexpected failures.
  • Material Recognition – Machine behavior can be correlated with different material properties.
  • Operational Optimization – Operators gain insights into cutting efficiency and machine utilization.
  • Predictive Maintenance – Potential problems can be identified before they result in costly downtime.
  • Automated Analysis – Algorithms can continuously monitor machine behavior without manual intervention.

These capabilities help mining operators improve productivity while reducing operational costs.

Why Active LED Targets Matter

The optical tracking device using active markers
tracking device with active markers

One of the key aspects of this project was the use of active tracking targets.

Unlike passive markers that reflect infrared light, active targets emit their own infrared signal.

This offers several advantages:

  • Improved visibility over larger distances
  • Better performance in varying lighting conditions
  • Increased robustness for outdoor applications
  • Reliable identification of tracked objects

These active targets allow PST Iris to operate reliably in demanding field conditions without compromising accuracy.

PST Iris for Industrial Applications

The RockFeel project demonstrates how PST Iris can be used in demanding industrial environments beyond traditional laboratory applications.

Its long operating range, accurate 6DoF tracking, and support for custom active LED targets make it well suited for applications that require reliable motion data under challenging conditions.

The flexibility of PST Iris enables its use in a wide range of applications, including:

  • Mining and excavation equipment
  • Industrial automation
  • Autonomous machinery
  • Research and development platforms
  • Training and simulation systems

As industries continue to automate, accurate motion data becomes increasingly important. PST Iris provides the reliable tracking foundation needed for these next-generation industrial applications.