The release of HELIX 1.6 marks a significant step forward in delivering smarter, more connected underground mining operations. With major enhancements across 3D Connect, IoT/Automation, and Dispatch, this latest version focuses on improving real-time visibility, simplifying system management, and strengthening operational decision-making across the mine site.
Key module updates
HELIX 3D Connect
HELIX 1.6 introduces a more intuitive and powerful mapping experience, making it easier for users to interact with and manage underground environments.
Key Features:
- Users can now create operational or safety zones directly on the site map with a simple right-click action, making the setup process easier and much more intuitive for end users.
- HELIX now supports assigning Beacons to wireless Access Points and Antenna infrastructure. Beacons that are tied to network hardware automatically follow any repositioning of those devices — reducing manual updates and ensuring spatial accuracy across your tracking and mapping systems thus saving time unlike other systems.
- Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) values and alarms are now integrated into the HELIX Maps interface, meaning operators can see live DPM tokens and alerts on the same map view instead of navigating away to a different view.
- The Object Explorer window has been upgraded to include geospatial context such as Beacons and Zones, in addition to traditional site layers. This makes it easier to locate and manage spatial assets, improving visibility and device discovery across your network.
- The surface map experience has been refined with a UI control that lets users adjust the opacity of the layer. This improves visual clarity for vehicles, devices, and other critical elements overlaid on maps — particularly in complex operational environments.
HELIX IoT/Automation
Key Features:
- HELIX now natively supports MODBUS TCP alarm inputs, enabling integration with industrial equipment and environmental sensors using MODBUS protocols, expanding a broader capability within the mine.
- By supporting Modbus TCP, a widely adopted industrial communication protocol, HELIX can integrate directly with a wide range of third-party devices and systems, including PLCs, environmental sensors, pumps, ventilation controls, and fixed infrastructure. This removes the need for complex custom integrations and allows mines to leverage existing equipment as part of a unified digital ecosystem.
With greater interoperability, HELIX can ingest real-time data from across the operation and present it alongside tracking, telemetry, and dispatch information, giving operators a more complete and contextualised view of what’s happening underground.
Beyond visibility, this connectivity enables a wider volume of automation and control workflow opportunities.
HELIX Dispatch
Key Features:
- Introducing the optional Component Tracking module of HELIX Dispatch. This feature set enables detailed configuration and reporting of removable vehicle component installations. Component Tracking enhances operational visibility and supports better asset management through comprehensive transaction logging. It allows you to:
- Record mounting events, including component type, vehicle, and mount position.
- Record unmounting events, including component type, vehicle, and reason for removal.
- Track component usage across vehicles, providing a clear audit trail of where each component is currently installed or has been used.
- When creating production cycle records for loaders or trucks, you can now easily create complementary records for the paired equipment unit. For example, when creating a set of 3 loader records that dumped to a truck, you can directly create the complementary truck record. This ensures that timestamps correlate between paired records and that all material inventories are updated accordingly.
- The following new standard reports have been added:
- Machine Hours – Lists the current engine hours and percussion hours for all equipment units.
- Refuel History – Lists the historical refuel events for all equipment units.
- Components Summary – Lists the components currently mounted to all equipment, in addition to historical components
- Keyboard shortcuts have been added to the HELIX Dispatch Desktop application to improve user experience. You can now use Ctrl-Enter to press OK on any open dialog. You can also use Ctrl-N, Ctrl-D, and Ctrl-Enter from a list to create a new record, delete the selected record, or edit the selected record, respectively. For a full list of available functions, refer to the HELIX Dispatch Desktop application help content.
HELIX Dispatch reducing your cycle times
