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Remote mining with autonomous haul trucks is a key component of Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future strategy to increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve health, safety and environmental performance.
From a building at Perth airport, world number two miner Rio Tinto manages 15 mines, 43 trains and four ports some 1,500 km from the West Australian capital.
Trials for the autonomous haul truck (AHT) project began as far back as December 2008.
The robot army deployed in the Pilbara region of Western Australia has now moved 200 million tonnes and traveled nearly 4 million kilometers.
Rio is also looking at autonomous drills and after spending $500 million on the project trains will also be remotely controlled from next year.
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2 Comments
frankinca
It is very hard to believe, that the intention of Rio Tinto to eliminate as many people from participating in their mining interests, are so acute. Maybe the world should invest in finding other materials so that those of Rio Tinto are no longer needed. This company is no world citizen, but an imitation of a bank whose only interest is wealth!. I hope all good mining people will show their disgust, as I am, or show me why it is beneficial to all to have robots do all the work, even as mundane as steering a truck. Finally why have the roadway? since it is less efficient than a railway. Spend a pound to save a pence, is hardly good business!.
Matty Murken
One thing they cannot automate…yet…..and that is fixing / repairing /maintenance.People still need to be there to do this function.If companies can overcome the maintenance man ;then we can mine the moon ‘ and pull that worthless rock out of the sky!! Earth First !!! then we mine all the other planets later !!Amen!