FLEET AUTOMATION
foreseeable future, there is no plan to allow
FrontRunner integration with a third-party FMS as
the mine-wide optimisations afforded by
DISPATCH are second-to-none. Indeed, Komatsu’s
ideal customer is one that is a current DISPATCH
user, but there have been migrations from a third-
party FMS to DISPATCH with little disruption to
operations.”
Since the release of FrontRunner version 3.3
more than a year ago, FrontRunner AHS does
possess the ability to operate in a mixed fleet
(manual and autonomous truck) environment. All
that’s required is installing a FrontRunner manual
haul truck kit to make it system aware, thus being
treated the same as an equipped manual vehicle
(such as a light truck, dozer, loader or grader)
albeit with the additional benefits of DISPATCH
FMS for its dynamic assignments.
On what’s next in AHS, Komatsu reminded IM
that automation is really a spectrum from Level 1
to Level 5. Komatsu is automating across the
spectrum of automation on its mining equipment.
In Level 1 (guidance) – Modular Mining offers the
revolutionary Guided Spotting solution that allows
operators to spot at shovels efficiently and safely.
Considering Level 2 automated systems (operator
assist) – “the D375 iMC dozer is a great example
where the operator assist functions allow less
experienced operators to achieve those beyond
experienced operators on a manual dozer through
auto-blade control and track slip management.
There will be more of these systems released as
part of the journey toward full autonomy on a
wide variety of mining equipment.” For Level 3 and
beyond – Komatsu says it has progressive projects
on a wide variety of equipment that the market
will see move from research to commercial
products over the coming years.
Talking next to the independents, IM spoke first
with Finnish-Russian group Zyfra Mining (former
VIST Group) and its Managing Director, Dmitriy
Klebanov. Its two projects with coal giant SUEK
are the most advanced of its autonomous trials. At
Khakassia mine, AHS has been deployed on
BELAZ 7513R 130 t dump trucks and have had to
meet the challenges of climate extremes
conditions which in extreme cold include slippage
and drifts. The tests have shown significant
transportation efficiency gains due to a higher
average speed, no shift changes and no downtime
associated with operators. Potential productivity
growth at the mining site could be as high as 25%.
One of the main advantages cited by Zyfra (and by
ASI later on in that interview) is that its AHS is
dispatch agnostic and could be integrated with
any FMS whether its own VG Karier, Modular
DISPATCH and offerings from Wenco, Hexagon or
others.
AHS aside, Zyfra has also deployed
autonomous drills in SUEK’s Tugnuyskiy open pit.
“We are able to retrofit autonomy on any Epiroc
64 International Mining | APRIL 2020
AHS as a contract miner solution
Brazil-headquartered contract mining major U&M has been able to retrofit AHS on a Cat 777 truck
entirely in-house. Paul Moore caught up with Commercial Director, Mauricio Casara for the latest on
the project
Q Last year you progressed a lot with testing the truck both at your own test quarry and also with
two trial customers. What has been done since then and will you upscale your AHS to a larger
machine?
A It is still progressing well, we have entered the rainy season at the mine site where we are currently
testing the truck and our team is working on the setup/fine tuning for the adverse weather
conditions. Since utilisation of trucks drops considerably in very wet weather, we have another team
working on the preparation of a 200 ton class (Komatsu 730E) conversion, which will hopefully be
ready in 5 or 6 months. It will be sent for trials at one of our contract mining sites, after being tested
here at our quarry. The decision to go to a bigger truck was natural as we initiated the project with
the 100 t class due to logistical reasons. It was easier to move the truck around and showcase it –
were able to test it at two different mines and take it to a trade show. Now that we have an AHS
conversion kit ready, it can be retrofitted to any truck size. The only difference in scaling up will be on
actuators and position of sensors on different trucks.
Q You will be one of the first mining contractors in the world to offer an in-house autonomous
solution, what has the market response been to the 100 t truck? When do you think you will have an
AHS fleet ready?
A Although the solution didn’t reach commercial stage, the clients that had contact with the system
gave us very positive feedback due to its simplicity and for not requiring heavy comms infrastructure.
Based on the project timeline it is likely that we will have a fleet of AHS trucks ready by the end of
2021.
Q How will your autonomous fleet option work from a contractual point of view? You own and
operate the autonomous fleet then after the contract ends you will move the auto trucks to a new
project?
A The format of the contract will come from the client and be based on their requirements but yes,
the idea is that the truck will be owned and operated by us and at the end of the contract it moves to
another site, where it can be operated in either autonomous or manned mode. Although the driver to
develop the project was safety, this simplicity and capability of operating in either autonomous or
manned mode was a core part of the mission given to our innovation team. It is key to the kind of
service that we provide.
Q What are your network requirements in a mine for your autonomous trucks to work?
A There are no heavy network requirements. The trucks are guided by an onboard navigation system,
which sends and receive data from dispatch using a simple short wave radio frequency transmission
system and we have one (or more depending the size of the mine) RTK base station to ensure the
truck is following the correct path outlined in its mission.
Q Finally, as a company are you
also looking at automating other
equipment in-house such as
drills, support machines etc?
A Yes – it is to early to go into any
details but we are progressing
well on the development of a
system that will allow us to
operate our production dozers in
remote or autonomous modes.
U&M thinks it will have a full AHS
fleet ready by end 2021