SURFACE LOADING
hectare area owned by the company and is a digging and travelling operations test site where operations can be conducted day and night . Mining machinery is tested in a variety of environments , including at different times during the day and in different weather conditions .
In fiscal year 2024 , the company told IM that it aims to launch a control and assist display function to help the operator operate its EX-7 series ultra-large hydraulic excavators as an optional feature . By 2030 it also aims to develop a ultra-large hydraulic excavator with autonomous operation capabilities .
Many customers are interested in the technology to improve productivity and reduce operator workload . The teleremote system includes some operator assist technology . Firstly , it automatically controls the digging direction and speed of the bucket toe according to the excavator ’ s digging load . This function allows customer to reduce the load on the excavator ’ s body and fuel consumption .
Secondly , the loading assist feature generates a trajectory of the loading operation and controls the excavator ’ s body to follow the trajectory according to the operator ' s lever operation . This function contributes to reducing operator fatigue , levelling the loading operation , and avoiding collisions with the dump body .
Thirdly , the monitor displays information useful for improving productivity . For example , bucket loading capacity , cycle time , how unevenly the dump truck is loaded on the dump body , and a birds-eye view of the excavator ’ s body .
On electrification , tethered versions are already offered of its whole range up to the EX8000-7E , all of which are equipped with Hitachi AC motors . HCM spokesperson Sayori Nagaoka told IM : “ Hitachi ' s electric large excavators have given our customers not only product performance and environmental benefits , but a lower operating cost too . The low annual operating cost of the electric option is becoming very appealing over standard diesel models . Firstly , customers are not reliant on , nor having to pay for diesel fuel . Secondly , engine-related maintenance costs are eliminated , and motor maintenance costs are cheaper and less frequent than those for engines . Thirdly , standard diesel models take several hours to refuel , while electric excavators can operate with a wired power supply . There is no need to stop operation to refuel . In addition , the controlled noise also makes it comfortable during operation . The only noise from the machine is when the bucket drives against the bench .”
HCM ’ s Kei Sato in the company ’ s Development Dept of the Mining Development & Production Mining Group stated in a recent video : “ To extract minerals such as iron ore with maximum efficiency , it is required to operate 24 hours a day , 365 days a year . At the mine , machine operators work long hours doing complex operations while being shaken inside the machine ’ s cab . Therefore reducing operator workload has become a major issue in mining . By enabling operators to operate their machines remotely instead of inside the cab , the safety and comfort of the operator is enhanced . We ’ ve set up an environment where an operator can operate an ultra-large excavator from a remote control room . We are now developing operator assistance functions such as monitor displays
Remote operation of a Hitachi EX2500-6 ultralarge hydraulic excavator
that make it easy for the operator to operate the system from a remote control room and are targeting autonomous operation in the future . For example , we are researching assist functions such as collision avoidance to prevent collisions with dump trucks when loading minerals ... we ’ re planning to conduct verification tests in an actual mine in Australia ... the challenge is how to successfully communicate actual information to remote areas . There are ways of conveying the sounds and vibrations from the worksite . But I believe there are still lots of things that can be done with visual information such as adding auxiliary display functions . In the future we would like to contribute to the efficiency of the entire mining process in conjunction with autonomous dump truck operation and the fleet management system at mines .”
Liebherr ’ s loading leverage
Liebherr also offers electric versions of all its main hydraulic shovels which in mining classes include the R 9100 up to the R 9800 . An electric
BuilderX expands scope & functionality
China ’ s remote control tech company BuilderX first came into the spotlight in mining in 2020 when it delivered a major project with XCMG for a remote control 95 t XE950DA excavator for Jiangxi Copper . It then worked with leading Chinese electric rope shovel OEM TYHI at coal miner SPIC ’ s Huolinhe operation and has also worked with Hitachi Construction Machinery . The company told IM recently : “ Our product categories have expanded from excavators to wheel loaders , rope shovels and drilling rigs , which have been put into use in open pit mines , underground mines , ports and other scenarios . With BuilderX ’ s remote-control system , those machines can continuously operate for 24 hours per day . In order to improve production efficiency , intelligent functions such as anti-collision and bucket tooth recognition have been added . Moreover , with intelligent functions , the remote-control efficiency per hour is closely equivalent to that of an experienced operator .”
The BuilderX platform has also had some practical AI features upgraded including the BDI ( Bucket Depth Indicator ) function . “ Operating an excavator using a standard 2D monitor can be challenging due to the lack of perceived depth and limited field of view ( FOV ). The operator cannot fully assess the undulation of the working surface , or the digging depth of the bucket . Therefore , the bucket is sometimes not full when digging , and the position of the dump truck cannot be accurately ascertained when unloading , which leads to efficiency loss . BuilderX applies AR and AI technology to monitor the position of the excavator ' s bucket in 3D space in real time , and displays its vertical shadow point as a ‘ green grid ’ on the screen . This provides the accurate determination of the target position and enhances the sense of space of the working surface , which makes the work of an operator more convenient and boosts efficiency .”
International Mining | MARCH 2023