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 for transmitting information to and/or receiving information from one or more of the plurality of electronic detonators,   wherein the blasting machine is adapted to function under voice control so as to cause the blasting machine to transmit information to and/or receive information from one or more of the plurality of electronic detonators.   
     
     
         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 2 , 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 input command received from a blast operator to be compared against a registry of stored commands, that enables the registry to be searched for a stored command that most closely matches the said voice input command received, and that enables the blasting machine to relay the said stored command to the blast operator for confirmation that the said stored command reflects correctly the voice input command, and wherein if it is not possible to match the said 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 input 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 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 authorized 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 unauthorized attempts to use the blasting machine trigger an alarm and/or lead to shutdown of the blasting machine thereby rendering the blasting machine 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 for transmitting information in and/or receiving information from one or more electronic detonators when the one or more detonators are operatively associated with the blasting machine, wherein the blasting machine is adapted to function under voice control so as to cause the blasting machine to transmit information to and/or receive information from one or more of the electronic detonators when the one or more electronic detonators are operatively associated with the blasting machine. 
     
     
         15 . A method of blasting in which a blasting machine as claimed in  claim 14  transmits information to and/or receives information from one or more detonators, with the transmission and/or receipt of the information being caused by voice control of the blasting machine.