The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Metal Tech News - July 31, 2024
Komatsu 930E autonomous haul truck being loaded by a Komatsu PC7000 excavator.
In a major milestone for mine safety, efficiency, and productivity, Komatsu reports that the more than 750 Komatsu autonomous haul trucks deployed around the world have hauled more than 10 billion metric tons of material.
As a pioneer in the commercial automation of mining haul trucks, Komatsu launched the FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) in 2008.
Over the ensuing years, Komatsu has continued to innovate to meet the evolving needs of their customers and offer tailored autonomous solutions to promote enhanced operations on a mine-by-mine basis.
So far, 10 Komatsu trucks have operated autonomously for 100,000 hours each, a first in the mining industry. Given that there are 8,760 hours in a year, meaning these trucks have operated the equivalent of 11.4 years of continuous operation, this is also a testament to the consistency and productivity of these self-driving haulers.
"Since paving the way with the first commercial autonomous haulage operation in the marketplace 17 years ago, Komatsu is proud to continue being an industry leader in autonomy," said Martin Cavassa, Komatsu's autonomous systems business development manager.
Komatsu says the steady and predictable operations of its autonomous haul trucks have resulted in tangible safety, productivity, and cost benefits for its customers.
This includes significant improvements in tire and brake life, as well as reductions in overall maintenance, while at the same time increasing haulage productivity.
Cavassa says the capabilities of Komatsu's autonomous trucks are backed by a team of AHS application and technical experts, as well as the in-depth knowledge of its training and support specialists.
"In every engagement, we bring that expertise to the table to help our customers achieve all the value that FrontRunner can deliver to their operations," he said.
With its current fleet of autonomous trucks hauling more than 6 million metric tons of material per day, Komatsu is expected to surpass billion-ton autonomous haulage milestones every six months – a rate that is expected to accelerate as more customers adopt FrontRunner AHS.
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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