SURFACE LOADING
Builder X leads remote control shovel charge
It is well known that the remote operation of large mining shovels is something that the major miners want – it is a natural progression as part of taking operators out of hazardous in-pit working locations and conditions , plus in mines that already have autonomous trucks as well as autonomous drills , the shovel and excavator operators are the only primary fleet operators left in the field , not including of course maintenance crews plus the ancillary fleet .
IM has reported widely on this topic , including progress being made by Caterpillar , Komatsu , Liebherr and Hitachi on commercial OEM-led teleremote shovel offerings as well as some real world examples from third party technologies companies like RCT ( now part of Epiroc ) and HLS Hard-Line ( now part of Hexagon ).
Over in China , a number of hydraulic excavators and large electric rope shovels have already been converted to teleoperation ; many of them using technology and systems supplied by Builder [ X ] Robotics aka Builder X , a Beijing-based company led by Shaolong Sui , Founder and CEO . The mines concerned tend to be some of the largest in the country and those most focused on intelligent and smart operations ; plus they tend to also be running or testing autonomous mining trucks as well .
Looking at 2023 alone , a good example is from CHN Energy ’ s Heidaigou coal mine in the Zhungeer Coalfield . On March 2 , 2023 , the mine and its auxilliary coal preparation plant passed the acceptance inspection for China ’ s first group of intelligent demonstration coal mines . As part of that it has built a 5G network that covers the office area and the unmanned operation area in the pit , plus established a 140G optical transmission network system that realises high-speed communication with video surveillance devices .
Builder X converted a XCMG 700 t class XE7000 hydraulic backhoe excavator – to use its Tele + AI Operation System . The system provided also incorporates intelligent features such as pedestrian detection , bucket teeth detection , and posture monitoring , effectively mitigating the impact of harsh environmental conditions on operations . Following training involving 97 trucks , operators swiftly adapted to the remote operating mode , with loading efficiency approaching on-site loading efficiency at approximately 220 seconds per truck . Heidaigou operates autonomous trucks including retrofitted Komatsu 930Es using WAYTOUS technology .
Also in 2023 , at a high altitude copper mine at 5,600 m with temperatures as low as -40 ° C , Builder X converted a large TYHI TZ WK-35C mining shovel for teleremote operation . The operation has not been named by Builder X for confidentiality reasons – but from the shovel and altitude concerned can be identified as Zijin Mining ’ s Julong mine – plus an image supplied shows the shovel remotely loading an autonomous NHL NTE240BAT electric drive truck ; Julong began autonomous truck fleet planning and installation with TAGE Idriver back in 2021 .
The tech takes operators away from a snowy or often dusty environment where the altitude also requires operators to have to use supplementary oxygen at times . Again using a 5G network , the Builder X system offers autoloading but also AI including pedestrian detection , anti-collision warning , and highpressure flameout / shutdown . Builder X says it has improved work efficiency , with operators completing a full truck load within 4 minutes . Plus it has ensured operator safety and significantly enhanced job satisfaction as well as mitigated the challenge of labour recruitment difficulties at the mine .
Moving back to coal , and SPIC ’ s Huolinhe coal mine in Inner Mongolia ranks among the five largest open-pit coal mines in China and experiences long , extremely cold winters with temperatures dropping to -40 ° C . It also faces hot summers with frequent rainfall , often accompanied by strong winds and dust storms . In 2022 , Builder X installed a teleremote system on a TYHI WK-12 rope shovel , again running on 5G and featuring pedestrian detection , auto-loading , and remote flameout / shutdown .
The system was swiftly put into operation , showcasing impressive loading efficiency of one truck every 4-5 minutes initially . Over time , this efficiency averaged at 3 minutes per truck , even during night operations , becoming the standard in the mine ’ s routine operations . In 2022 , CCTV10 featured a report on the remote intelligent control electric shovel at Huolinhe . In 2023 , due to the positive operational and societal impact , the mine made a repeat purchase , upgrading to the Tele + AI Operation System on another WK-12C electric shovel . Huolinhe is well known as an innovative operation , using XEMC and NHL autonomous trucks as well as having pioneered the use of an all battery rigid mining truck in China , a converted XEMC SF31904 AC .
A similar system was installed for another top five coal mines in China in Inner Mongolia – conversion of TZ WK-12 shovels at CHN Energy ( Yanbao Energy )’ s Yuanbaoshan coal mine ; with additional pedestrian detection , real-time monitoring and six-screen splicing . The mine also operates autonomous trucks and has established a dedicated dispatch command centre .
Given the challenging geological conditions of loose soil and potential groundwater seepage at Yuanbaoshan , vehicles commuting to the site leave deep ruts on the ground , reducing travel efficiency . The adoption of remote intelligent control for shovels eliminates the need for operators to commute to the site , requiring only periodic on-site maintenance by repair personnel . This extension of operational duration in the mining area ensures that the efficiency and output of electric shovels are no longer impacted by traffic issues .
Xilinhe coal mine embarked on a technological transformation in 2022 , with a focus on automation , integration , intelligence , and unmanned operations . It now utilises Builder X ’ s Tele + AI Operation System , incorporating intelligent features such as pedestrian recognition and one-click reset on four electric shovels . This involves the use of technologies like laser radar , line control upgrades , and ultra-low latency systems .
Other coal mines having shovels converted for teleoperation by Builder X include Tianchi Energy ’ s South coal mine . In early 2022 , in parallel with the deployment of a large fleet of autonomous mining trucks by Eacon Mining , a collaboration between Eacon and Builder X , saw a Caterpillar 349 backhoe hydraulic excavator converted to remote operation . Selected AI functions include a bucket depth indicator , bucket teeth detection , pedestrian detection and large block recognition .
Moving to iron ore and in 2021 , Baotao Steel ’ s Baiyun iron mine ( also called Bayan Obo ) began implementing an intelligent remote control transformation , utilising the Builder X Tele + AI operation system to retrofit equipment such as TZ WK-10 electric shovels and XCMG XE3000 excavators . This enables remote control operations for various types of equipment , ensuring on-site operational safety . Additionally , the application of intelligent AI functions such as posture monitoring , anticollision warnings , and data monitoring enhances operational efficiency . By 2023 , the mining area has completed the construction of a smart control centre building and has repeatedly purchased the Tele + AI operation system , upgrading various equipment like WK- 20 and WK-4C shovels , PLK4500 dozers and KY- 310 drilling rigs . Bayan Obo also has a well established autonomous truck fleet – NHL NTE brand electric drive trucks using TAGE Idriver ’ s system .
Finally , since the beginning of 2020 , Builder
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38 International Mining | MARCH 2024