Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr
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AUTONOMOUS MINING AC3 trucks. As well as GPS, the trucks also have a control system that allows precise speed control, helping them to negotiate steep slopes at the mine safely. Hitachi's general manager of mining in Australia, Eric Green, said the trial will develop automated mining trucks that can interact with other people-operated mining equipment. He also stressed that Hitachi has a long way to go to develop the technology, which is at a very early stage. "We want to do it right, and this will take very careful testing over a considerable time," he said. The Benefits E&MJ; asked both Caterpillar and Komatsu for their views on the benefits that can be achieved from using autonomous truck haulage. Caterpillar noted that the driving force for autonomous mining vehicle development was (and still is) safety and productivity. Removing humans from the work site reduces the opportunity for injury and negative health effects. The company added that removing the operator from the machine eliminates machine downtime for changing operators, and food and rest breaks. Autonomous vehicles also eliminate human operator variability. The result most often seen is www.e-mj.com improved machine reliability and durability, better fuel efficiency and increased production rates over time, Caterpillar stated. From Komatsu's perspective, autonomous trucks offer three major advantages. Firstly, there is better safety though the elimination of incidents caused by drowsy, careless or unskilled truck drivers. Secondly, mines can achieve higher efficiency through having a planned and stable operation, with reduced variability caused by drivers' breaks, shift change and fly-in/out days. The operation becomes accurate, repeatable, and predictable, with higher utilization and lower operational costs since there are no direct or indirect driver costs. Lastly, Komatsu pointed out, there is a big advantage from an environmental perspective. Not only are carbon emissions cut because of decreased fuel consumption, but tire-disposal costs are lower since tires last longer. In general, and from a theoretical point of view, the company told E&MJ;, autonomous haulage trucks use less fuel since maneuvering is system-controlled and avoids deviations that can result from driver choice. Putting figures on these benefits is obviously mine-specific, although Meech has estimated some in generic terms through modeling mine operations. His view is that autonomous truck haulage can generate production and productivity improvements of 15%–20%, while cutting fuel consumption by 10%–15%. Tire wear rates can also be 5%–15% lower, while overall utilization of the vehicles can be 10%–20% higher. And, with better driving practice, maintenance costs can also fall, maybe by around 8%, Meech believes. Against that, of course, is that individual trucks do cost more when equipped with the systems needed for autonomous operation. However, the higher initial capital cost can quickly be paid off through savings made on reduced bills for wages and on-costs such as fly in-fly out and minesite accommodation. With mines being operated in increasingly remote parts of the world, and with some regions critically short of experienced personnel, that is no small consideration. Autonomous haulage is not the best choice for every surface mine. That only a few mining companies have chosen to adopt the technology speaks volumes for the complexity involved. Nonetheless, competitive pressures of all sorts will undoubtedly spur others on to join the club as the benefits become more readily apparent. JANUARY 2014 • E&MJ; 37