The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - May 22, 2023
Representatives from more than 20 mines around the world in front of Komatsu's 980E-5AT truck during the Automation Global User Forum at the Komatsu Arizona Proving Grounds.
Receiving directional commands from the FrontRunner autonomous haulage system, Toyota light trucks can operate alongside autonomous Komatsu haul trucks at mines.
From the Arctic regions of northern Sweden to the Andes Mountains in Chile and hot desert climates of Western Australia, 650 mining trucks equipped with Komatsu Ltd.'s FrontRunner autonomous haulage system have transported more than 6.2 billion metric tons of material at 22 mine sites in five countries.
Self-driving haul trucks, however, are just one part of the Japanese equipment manufacturer's vision of a future mine where autonomous excavators, dozers, drills, water trucks, road graders, and even light passenger vehicles all safely and efficiently operate in synchronous harmony.
"Interoperability is the cornerstone of our mining automation strategy," said Martin Cavassa, manager of automation business development for Komatsu.
With an emphasis on this interoperability strategy, Komatsu recently brought together automated hauling system customers from around the globe for a mining automation forum at the company's Arizona Proving Grounds in Tucson, Arizona.
In addition to highlighting Komatsu's current automated mining equipment achievements and future plans, the Komatsu Automation Global User Forum included customer-presented case studies illustrating the value autonomous haulage has brought to their mining operations and their potential paths to an automated mine site.
"This forum was an excellent opportunity to showcase our developments in automation as well as what we envision for the future of mining," said Cavassa.
Understanding that each operation has its own automation needs, Komatsu's concept for the automated mine of the future includes a range of options from remote operation and task-level automation to the ultimate goal of the company's interoperability strategy – a fully autonomous mine.
The autonomous mining customers that gathered at the Arizona Proving Grounds were also treated to a first look at a key piece to the fully automated mine of the future, an autonomous pickup truck being developed jointly by Komatsu and Toyota Motor Corp.
While pickup trucks carrying people and equipment are typically the smallest vehicles within a mine site, they can have an outsized impact on the productivity of an automated mine that depends on interoperability to maximize efficiency and safety.
Currently, when Komatsu's autonomous haul trucks and human-driven light vehicles are running on haulage roads at the same time, the much larger autonomous haulage system-enabled truck will decrease its speed or even stop when it comes in proximity to the passenger vehicle. This is a built-in safety feature to avoid a collision with a vehicle that is not within the automated haulage system and could change course or speed at any time.
Having the light vehicles synced up with the autonomous haul trucks would improve both the safety and productivity within an autonomous mine.
Komatsu and Toyota are working together to resolve this interoperability outlier by syncing Toyota light vehicles to the Komatsu trucks and other interconnected mining equipment.
Receiving directional commands from the FrontRunner autonomous haulage system, one or more Toyota autonomous vehicles can integrate with and operate alongside a Komatsu autonomous haulage fleet.
Toyota says this autonomous integration will help safely and efficiently produce the minerals "essential in our lives and industries."
"Komatsu and Toyota share a vision for developing an affluent and sustainable society to pass on the next generation," the Japanese automaker wrote. "To do that, we are accelerating our efforts to realize smart and clean future mine sites, leading to higher safety and productivity for our customer and partners."
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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