An overview of Advance
Technologies in Mobile Mining
Equipment
22 April 2015
presented by
Robert A. Hall
University of Alberta
Outline
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Background
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Technology Drivers
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Adapting Technology derived by others
Developing or Co-Developing Technology with
others
History
Current focus
Some thoughts
Remote
Data Acquisition
Events & Parameter
Archiving & Storage
Presentation
E-mail
Haul Trucks
Oracle
Database
WENCO
BCS
Phone Link
O&K
PI
Database
Sybase
Database
NMCC
Event Tracking
System
ProcessNet
Data Server
Internet
Information
Server
Phone Link
P&H
BE
i2T
Base Station
SCL LAN
TCPIP
WEB Based
User Interface (IE5)
Technology Drivers
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Location
» Logistics
» Climate
» Altitude
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Labour
» Available skill set
» Available at all!
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Safety
Cost Reduction
Automation in the 1990s
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Inco 20 Million dollar research
program
» Autonomous drilling
» Teleoperation
» Autonomous Scoops
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Falconbridge
» Autodig scoops
» Teleoperation
Automation in the 1990s
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CSIRO
» Autonomous drilling
» Teleoperation
» Autonomous Scoops
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CRC
» Draglines
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Komatsu
Results
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Caterpillar/DAS’s MINEGEM
(www.cat.com)
Sanddvik’s AutoMine
(www.sandvik.com)
Atlas Copco’s ST14 ARV
(www.atlascopco.com)
1990s early 2000s
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Inco reduced its research program
CSIRO switched focus
Technology in the market was and
is still used by some companies
» Codelco
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CRC continued on with its research
Days(2003-2008)
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Focus on open pit everyone was
doing it
Rio
» Autonomous Trains
» Remote Control Center
» Autonomous Trucks
» Autonomous Drills
Days(2003-2008)
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Phelps Dodge
» Autonomous Drills
» Autonomous Dozers
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BHP
» Autonomous Trucks
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CRC
» Intelligent Shovels
Days(2008-2010)
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Dramatic reduction in resources
allocated by industry for
Automation/Technology
Current Activities
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Autonomous Vehicles
» Trucks
– Chile
– Australia
– Fort McMurray
» Drills
– Canada
Current Activities
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Data Utilization
» Increase equipment availability
» Increase utilization
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LNG Vehicles
Expected use of existing
Technology
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Tele-operation will grow in use and
popularity
Autonomous Trucks and Drills will be
the norm for new large operations
Semi-Autonomous shovels
Some Observations/Opinions
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Automation/Technology is only “really
important” when times are good
There is a trend for enthusiasts to
oversell the benefits
The industry in collaboration with
providers needs a plan to develop and
implement automation/Technology
We need to ensure human resources
are available for the new equipment
and mine
Some
Observations/Opinions
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Need to look at step change
technologies vs incremental change
Need to convince companies to invest
through the cycle
» i.e. Autonomous Trucks is a good example.
Some Questions
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Would we design our mines differently
if they were to be automated?
» Narrower haul roads
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If we have a fully autonomous mine
how will be do our mine planning
scheduling?
What is the ideal size or (design) of
equipment for an autonomous mine?
Thank You
Questions
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