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PS 26039HARDWARETravel & TourismHeavy R&D

Al-Powered Underground Mine Safety, Monitoring and Rescue System.

Governmcnt of Jharkhand• Department of Higher & Technical Education
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30-Second Plain English Summary

Underground coal and metal miners in Jharkhand face mortal risks from hazardous toxic gas build-up (methane CH4, carbon monoxide CO), roof falls, and oxygen depletion with zero real-time wireless communication to surface rescue teams. Build an AI-powered underground mine safety and rescue monitoring system using intrinsically safe IoT sensor nodes, underground mesh communication, and a digital twin tracking miner vitals and toxic gas plumes.

5-Dimension Strategic ScorecardOverall Score: 4.1 / 5.0
Innovation
4.4 / 5
36h Feasibility
4.1 / 5
Uniqueness
3.8 / 5
Jury Appeal
4.3 / 5
Tech Depth
3.9 / 5
Recommended System Architecture Pipeline
Intrinsically Safe Miner Badges (Gas/Vitals) -> Underground Sub-GHz Mesh -> Surface Base Station -> Gas Dispersion AI & Evacuation Router -> Mine Rescue Center
Hardware Bill of Materials (BOM) & Cost BreakdownEstimated component unit economics in Indian Rupee (INR)
Prototype Unit Cost:₹72,400
ComponentSpecificationQtyEst. Cost
All-Terrain Tracked Autonomous Rescue Rover PlatformHeavy-duty crawler chassis navigating rubble, steep inclines, and muddy underground mine drifts1₹18,500
FLIR Lepton 3.5 Thermal & Starlight Low-Light Pan-Tilt Gimbal CameraIdentifies trapped survivor body heat and hot toxic gas leaks in zero visibility1₹16,500
ATEX/DGMS Explosion-Proof Multi-Gas Sensing PayloadElectrochemical & NDIR sensor cluster measuring CH4, CO, CO2, and O2 depletion1₹4,500
Sub-GHz LoRa (433MHz) Subterranean Mesh Drop RepeatersStationary wireless relay nodes dropped along mine tunnels to bypass rock strata blockage3₹3,600
Wearable Miner Distress Beacon & Biometric Sensor TagPersonal telemetry unit with pulse oximeter, man-down IMU, and emergency SOS trigger1₹2,800
NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Embedded AI Mission ComputerOnboard edge SLAM navigation, real-time hazard mapping, and obstacle avoidance1₹26,500
Power Input: 24V 20Ah Flameproof Battery (Rover: 4-Hour Active Mission)
Form Factor: Heavy-Duty IP68 Explosion-Proof Tracked Rover & Helmet Tag
Architecture & Prototyping Strategy: Two-tier presentation strategy: (1) Hackathon MVP (~₹8k–₹12k) with 4-wheel rover + MQ multi-gas sensor + ESP32 LoRa tag; (2) Complete Rescue System (~₹72.4k) with tracked autonomous rover, FLIR thermal gimbal, Jetson Orin SLAM, tunnel repeater drop-nodes, and wearable miner tags.
Recommended Tech StackClick to search similar
Official Government Problem Description
Background: Jharkhand's underground coal mines face significant safety challenges, including toxic gas leaks,tunnel collapses, flooding, and poor visibility. During emergencies, rescue teams often lack real-time information about underground conditions, increasing risks and delaying response efforts.An intelligent robotic system capable of monitoring mine conditions, detecting hazards, and locating trapped workers can significantly improve mine safety and rescue operations while reducing risks to human rescuers. Description: The Al-Powered Mine Safety and Rescue Rover is an inteltigent robotic system designed to operate in hazardous underground mining environments. The rover is equipped with gas sensors, thermal and night-vision cameras, environmental monitoring sensors, and wireless communication modules to provide real-time information about mine conditions.The system can detect toxic gases, monitor temperature and humidity, identify potential hazards, and assist in locating trapped workers during emergencies. Using Al-based analysis and remote monitoring capabilities, the rover enables rescue teams to assess underground conditions without exposing personnel to dangerous environments. The solution aims to enhance mine safety, improve emergency response efficiency, and reduce the risk of casualties in underground mining operations. Expected Solution: Develop an Al-powered mine rescue system consisting of a rugged ground rover or a compact aerial drone capable of operating in hazardous underground mining environments. The system should provide real-time monitoring of toxic gases, temperature, humidity, and structural conditions while transmitting live video and thermal imaging data to a surface control station. The rover and drone will assist rescue teams by exploring inaccessible areas, detecting hazards, locating trapped workers, and providing situational awareness during emergencies. The solution should improve mine safety, reduce risks to rescue personnel, and enable faster, more informed emergency response in underground mines.
AI & PPT Citation Format

Smart India Hackathon 2026 Problem Statement PS-26039: "Al-Powered Underground Mine Safety, Monitoring and Rescue System.", Ministry: Governmcnt of Jharkhand. Strategy & Architecture via SIH ONE (https://sihone.pages.dev/ps/26039)

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