We’re excited to welcome two new colleagues to our Kiteshield development team— Johannes Cornelis Draaijer and Mark Håkansson. Their skills, experience, and passion will be key in strengthening the work towards advancing safety and empowering productivity in mining.

Introducing Johannes Cornelis Draaijer & Mark Håkansson

After two years at Microsoft in Norway, Johannes Cornelis Draaijer has returned to Mobilaris, and to Luleå, to take on the challenge of programming the embedded part of the Kiteshield solution. Having previously worked on similar projects, Johannes was drawn back by the unique technical challenges, the chance to do work he truly enjoys, and the opportunity to live in the place he calls home.

Mark Håkansson joins Kiteshield as a system developer, contributing to the project’s software development. He was drawn by the safety-critical nature of the work and the unique safety guarantees the system aims to deliver. For Mark, it’s not just about the technology — it’s about working with a “power team” of highly skilled and knowledgeable colleagues on a mission that will make a real difference.

Revolutionizing mining safety

The Kiteshield initiative – owned and driven by Boliden and LKAB, and supported by key partners Mobilaris, Combitech, NXP, and Robotec – aims to develop a safety system that guarantees collision avoidance, enabling manned and automated machines to safely share the same workspace in underground mining environments.

In June 2024, Kiteshield AB was established as Mobilaris’ newest product venture, taking a significant step towards revolutionizing safety in industrial environments. Starting with underground mining — where the need is greatest — Kiteshield’s goal is to set a new global standard for mixed traffic safety systems, with applications extending into other heavy industries.

The Kiteshield team at Mobilaris plays a critical role in the project, delivering robust real-time ultra-wideband (UWB) infrastructure and positioning solutions for the new safety-grade UWB localization system.

UWB technology offers highly accurate positioning that outperforms GPS or BLE in complex indoor environments, providing precise and reliable tracking even in areas with heavy signal interference. This level of precision is vital for critical applications in sectors such as mining, where accurate localization of personnel, equipment, and assets is critical for optimizing operations and ensuring safety.

The Kiteshield safety system is designed to integrate seamlessly with IoT and automation platforms through open interfaces, enabling an industrial digital ecosystem that leverages UWB’s precision for advanced safety features and optimized processes. By combining safety-critical design principles with cutting-edge development tools, the Kitehield team is helping lay the foundation for a new global safety standard that allows manned and automated machines to operate together – safely and efficiently.

The goal is to create an integrated ecosystem for mixed traffic solutions, enabling seamless operation between automated and manned machines.