“Lockheed Martin’s technology, paired with Carroll Technologies Group’s presence and experience in the mining industry, provides trapped miners the means to communicate with rescuers when no other form of contact is possible,” said Richard Holmberg, Lockheed Martin’s vice president who oversees the program. “It’s gratifying to apply our advanced communications and signal processing expertise in a new way to save lives.”
MagneLink is a self-contained, portable communications system that provides two-way voice and text communications by transmitting magnetic waves through the earth. This TTE technology eliminates the need for transmission wires and in-ground infrastructure required for standard radio communications. MagneLink also is capable of interfacing with miners’ hand-held emergency radios.
Lockheed Martin has conducted several successful in-mine demonstrations of the system and is working with the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to approve the equipment for use in mines. MSHA approval is anticipated this summer, at which time MagneLink systems can be ordered.
