FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Modular Mining DISPATCH strives to automate its functionality wherever possible . The site operator can create certain automation rules through the DISPATCH Actions module to customise the behaviour of DISPATCH without the need for coding solutions
Future of FMS
Paul Moore spoke to providers of fleet management technology , big and small , on everything from FMS integration with AHS , surface versus underground and light , flexible versions for smaller operations
Autonomous haulage systems ( AHS ), such as Komatsu ’ s FrontRunner are becoming more common across some the world ’ s largest mines . But of course , these operations are also using fleet management systems . But how does AHS integrate with FMS , such as Modular Mining ’ s DISPATCH ? Modular Mining is part of Komatsu ’ s Mining Technology Solutions and IM was able to catch up with George Mavros , Solutions Manager , Load & Haul , Mining Technology Solutions at Komatsu .
He comments : “ At autonomous sites running FrontRunner , DISPATCH still provides all the same fleet management functionality and optimisation capabilities as it does for non-autonomous sites . DISPATCH requests FrontRunner to execute the autonomous truck assignments and in turn FrontRunner provides execution status information back to DISPATCH to ensure that all fleet assignments are optimal and conform to the overall optimisation plan .
He adds : “ DISPATCH manages the assignment of manual and autonomous haul trucks simultaneously in real-time . Sites that utilise our FrontRunner system , consequentially utilise DISPATCH ’ s top of the line Optimizer for all the decision making . DISPATCH ’ s Optimizer is designed for maximum production at the lowest possible cost through optimal equipment utilisation and allocation .”
Mavros also says the Komatsu Technology Solutions team constantly monitors the market ’ s needs to be able to address the new problems our customers are facing . “ An example is the lowering carbon emissions at the mines initiative for which we are working on new solutions that leverage both our superior fleet optimisation capabilities integrated with our autonomous execution solutions to provide a step change on our customer ’ s path to carbon neutrality .”
What about in a remote operations centre scenario – if both DISPATCH and FrontRunner ‘ monitoring ’ are in the same place / hub – are fleet management staff working alongside autonomous monitor staff ? “ We recommend that
in all operations scenarios – on-premise and remote centres – the client uses system specific controllers or dispatchers as the user roles are quite different in managing a manual fleet versus
an autonomous fleet . All of our autonomous sites also operate manual fleets so the controller
workload is still quite high .” Mavros says it is working with its customers to improve the level of system automation to eliminate the need for much of the human intervention that is required today , making it possible for a single controller to manage both the manual and autonomous fleets at a site .
At non-autonomous mines , there are also some functionality elements of DISPATCH that enable operators including automated communication , as well as evolving operator- assist elements . “ DISPATCH strives to automate its functionality wherever possible . The site operator can create certain automation rules through the DISPATCH Actions module to customise the behaviuor of DISPATCH without the need for coding solutions . Rules can be activated and deactivated by the dispatcher depending on current operational strategies enabling quick changes in the behaviour of the system . Automated production messages , assignments , notifications , turn-by-turn navigation , road condition reporting are just a
few to list . This automation in functionality allows the controller to focus in monitoring the system while minimising reducing an operator ’ s dependence on a controller , which is designed to increase efficiency and the speed of communication .”
Other automated communication includes the equipment ’ s state within the load and haul cycle such as arriving , loading and dumping , overspeed and other safety notifications . Additionally , through integration with other Komatsu MTS or third-party systems , operators can be automatically notified on equipment health , payload information , grade / material loading and more .
Hexagon ’ s next level FMS
IM also spoke with Hexagon ’ s Mining division on its leading HxGN MineOperate OP Pro fleet management system . On its differentiators in the market , Hexagon highlighted first excellent GNSS positioning . “ MineOperate ’ s GNSS receivers can communicate with more satellite constellations , therefore its positioning is more accurate and reliable . This is particularly important in deep open pits and in mines in certain global locations , where the extra satellites that are visible to Hexagon ’ s receivers enable the machines to be located accurately and reliably .”
A second cited advantage of OP Pro is peer to peer communication . “ MineOperate OP Pro trucks and loading units establish a dedicated Wi-Fi connection to pass critical messages between each other at the loading face . This feature was developed to overcome the issue of poor communication between the loading unit and the server , which can occur due to highwall or face shadowing of the machines .” The truck takes important data — such as grade block boundary updates — from the server and passes it to the shovel . As the truck is loading , the payload messages are passed directly to the loading unit to provide real-time information to the shovel operator .”
Thirdly , the system features fully integrated machine guidance and fleet management . The OP Pro system and Hexagon ’ s machine guidance systems are fully integrated , providing machine operators with a consistent user interface and ensuring that the production and time utilisation data is fully integrated in the back end .
OP Pro also delivers accurate data with minimal operator interaction . “ After decades of development , OP Pro has an industry leading data capture system which doesn ’ t require
International Mining | MAY 2023