Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS) are part of the mining technology that provides for operation of haul trucks without drivers on board and involves the use of fleet intelligence, precision navigation (GPS/LiDAR/radar), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, and AI-powered real-time decision-making software in order to coordinate all the haul trucks’ activities within specific operational zones. Productivity is the pace at which the mine operates in terms of material movements (tons per hour) and efficiency of equipment, while safety involves reduction of accidents and injuries in mines along with protection from hazardous conditions for mine workers.
The research proves that AHS has great potential to enhance mine productivity because of the absence of limitations imposed by human factors (such as driver fatigue and need for breaks). It has been proven that AHS can result in 21.3% productivity gain due to higher machine utilization. Also, there is an opportunity for a productivity gain of about 6% per shift with the optimization of the work process through reducing queue time and increasing material movement.
The improvement in safety from AHS is considerable and has been extensively documented, where no injuries from autonomous haul trucks have been reported since the initial commercialization of AHS technology by Komatsu in 2008. The AHS takes a step further toward improving safety in mines by reducing the risk of accidents from human error by removing workers from mining sites to control rooms. Zero lost-time injury evidence has been found at Rio Tinto’s autonomous operation and Resolute Mining, demonstrating the significant contribution of AHS in improving safety performance, since there are fewer chances of accidents when operators are not exposed to risky environments.
Other than physical safety improvements, psychological safety has also improved with operators reporting that operating alongside autonomous trucks makes them feel more secure because they know that trucks will move with certainty and not due to random actions performed by humans. Autonomous haulage system fits the first four rungs of the Hierarchy of Controls approach by eliminating human error through eliminating human involvement with machinery, substitution of human involvement with machinery, isolation, and work environment modification. It replaces risky operator-to-operator interactions to operator-to-system interactions, thus making operators safe from any reckless colleague action such as rough loading.
The economic benefit that comes from increased safety and productivity also means that the use of AHS will result in 15% cost savings and increase the time machines operate. Other operational benefits will include lower fuel consumption and fewer emissions, extended tire life due to the absence of jerky start and maneuvering. The application of AHS technology is characterized by effective fleet management supported by powerful perception systems in GNSS denied and rough environments resulting in higher availability and lower costs per ton.
Nevertheless, the use of AHS necessitates an adequate management strategy, which should consider issues like re-training of employees, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, protecting against cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and developing preventative maintenance strategies. This shows that the future success of AHS use lies in matching technological innovations with efficient management processes in organizations. It has been found that AHS is a significant innovation, which can revolutionize safety management and operational efficiency in mining companies. Research suggests that the integration of AHS technology will enable miners to satisfy their emerging social and environmental needs.
