Electronic blasting system

Abstract

An electronic blasting system comprising: a plurality of electronic detonators; and a blasting machine, a function of which is to transmit information to and/or receive information about one or more of the plurality of electronic detonators, wherein the blasting machine is adapted to perform this function under voice control.

1 . An electronic blasting system comprising: 
 a plurality of electronic detonators; and    a blasting machine, a function of which is to transmit information to and/or receive information about one or more of the plurality of electronic detonators,    wherein the blasting machine is adapted to perform this function under voice control.    
     
     
         2 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1  comprising a microphone in communication with the blasting machine.  
     
     
         3 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the microphone is provided on a headset or helmet.  
     
     
         4 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the blasting machine is adapted to seek confirmation from a blast operator of a voice input command that has been received prior to implementation of that command.  
     
     
         5 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the blasting machine includes logic functionality that enables a voice command received from the blast operator to be compared against a registry of stored/actionable commands, that enables the registry to be searched for a stored command that most closely matches the input command received, and that enables the blasting machine to relay the matched registry command to the blast operator for confirmation that the matched command reflects correctly the actual input command, and wherein if it is not possible to match a voice input command with one stored in the registry, this is communicated to the blast operator with a verbal request or identifier for the voice command to be repeated.  
     
     
         6 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a device that has voice synthesis functionality.  
     
     
         7 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 6 , wherein the voice synthesis functionality is associated with or consequential on a voice command directed to the blasting machine that is operable under voice control.  
     
     
         8 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 6 , wherein the device and blasting machine are the same piece of equipment, and the voice synthesis functionality is used to acknowledge receipt of a voice input command and to indicate that the command is being actioned, to request a voice input command to be repeated (for confirmation purposes) and/or to prompt further command as might be required.  
     
     
         9 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 6 , wherein the voice synthesis functionality is used to generate a warning message.  
     
     
         10 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the blasting machine comprises as a security/safety feature voice recognition analysis functionality in order to limit operation of the blasting machine to authorised personnel.  
     
     
         11 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the blasting machine comprises memory means for storing voice commands that have been received by the blasting machine.  
     
     
         12 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 11 , wherein unauthorised attempts to use the blasting machine trigger an alarm and/or lead to shutdown of the blasting machine system thereby rendering it inoperable.  
     
     
         13 . An electronic blasting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the blasting machine is a portable device that is intended to transmit information to and/or receive information about a particular detonator when the portable device is associated with that detonator.  
     
     
         14 . A blasting machine as defined in  claim 1  for use in an electronic blasting system.  
     
     
         15 . A method of blasting which comprises use of an electronic blasting system as claimed in  claim 1