Guides: Engineering, Mining &amp; Surveying: Autonomous Operations

CODE OF PRACTICE: Safe mobile autonomous mining in Western Australia

CODE OF PRACTICE: Safe mobile autonomous mining in Western Australia Includes information on the two main groups involved in the introduction of an autonomous mining system: • system builders — those who design, manufacture, import, supply and commission or install the system • system operators — those who use the system, including operators, contractors and maintainers.

Online journal articles - ProQuest

Nordic Suppliers Make Smarter Machines: New ideas empower miners to develop custom solutions to site-specific needs Abstract: Steeped in tradition, Nordic mining suppliers provide some of best and most advanced equipment for demanding applications. Their ability to drill through hard-rock formations have earned them a great deal of respect, and they continue to improve with time. Following the digitalization trends, it seems the focus has turned to autonomy and data analysis to improve safety and productivity, and lower operating costs. What sets these suppliers apart is their experience and an understanding of the cyclic nature of the mining business. The brand names are recognized by miners worldwide. They have many years of experience and they will still be here tomorrow. At a gathering in Tampere, Finland, during September, Sandvik introduced a Tele-Remote for underground loaders and an improved cable bolter. As the intelligent operator-assisting system automatically steers the loader in environments previously unknown to it, loading can start immediately after site installation without a need for area definitions.
Bit Players Abstract: The speed, volume, quality, and nature of information collected and distributed over mine data networks is evolving at a rate that more closely resembles speed-of- light rather than speed-of-business -- which in itself is a fast-lane traveler on the technological highway. At one end of the data spectrum, it's now routine for a major mining operation to receive as much as five terabytes of equipment health and performance data daily from each of its large mining trucks. At the other end, it's also technically possible for mine management to quickly determine the physical status of workers in remote or extreme environments from real-time sweat-analysis data collected by a wearable sensor. Mining has claimed special circumstances for its you-first approach, citing cultural differences, the difficulty of dealing with data from remote locations and the uniqueness of each operation -- and this has resulted in what the EY report called a digital disconnect regarding the industry's technology uptake rate compared with other industrial sectors.
Underground Drilling Advances Improve Productivity, Safety While Cutting Costs Abstract: Underground cave and production drilling has seen the advent of some of the same Space Age and Industry 4.0 technological innovations that are revolutionizing other mining technologies and equipment. With the right communications infrastructure, a miner can leverage these innovations to improve mine safety, increase productivity, streamline operations and nix costs. In 2016, Atlas Copco, also now known as Epiroc, released the Simba S7, a hydraulic long hole drill rig with remote-control capabilities for narrow vein miners. The company described it as a versatile rig that enables increased automation and is built for small spaces and tough drilling conditions. The brains of the machine feature architecture that enables varying degrees of automation, depending on the miner's needs. A more basic setup features data monitoring, leveraging the company's telematics solution, Certiq, which gathers, compares and communicates equipment information, the company reported.
New OTR Tires to Run Cooler, Longer as Suppliers Crunch Data From Afar Abstract: For better or worse, Industry 4.0 has unleashed a race among the companies that service the mining sector to innovate based on real-time data and with a view of the automated mines of tomorrow. In the tire space, that means increased focus on field results for products, now captured by embedded sensors and streamed by satellite to support teams and business coordinators. Live data mandates prompt responses, both in the field and on the drawing board. The latest tire releases promise to increase the life of the tire by reducing heat and improving its resilience. Manufacturers and solutions suppliers back these promises with live data from test sites and the field. That ability has enabled them to also offer data management solutions. And that data can tell a miner more than just the air pressure of an exact tire at any given second. A few examples of such products and solutions follow.
Atlas Copco's 6thSense Offers a Digital Path to Systems Integration Abstract: According to Atlas Copco, automation and digitalization are the future of the mining industry, but automation is not just about remotely controlled machines. The Swedish-based equipment supplier said it offers smart connected products, and its new 6thSense concept is a major advance in getting all these systems connected. They are now taking a big step on the digital path for systems integration in mining, quarrying and tunneling. With 6thSense you are able to improve your operation in a completely new way, said Olav Kvist, VP-mining technology. The company said its customers are currently on different productivity levels and are seeking new ways to improve their operations. This is where Atlas Copco with its 6thSense digital path expects to be a key enabler to meet customer specific needs. Joe Farrugia, VP-global technology operations, noted, the key thing is that most can take significant steps on their existing fleets.
Keeping Crushers at Work Abstract: Located at the front end of any miner- al-processing system, crushers are heavy-duty, high-cost pieces of equipment of which a lot is expected in terms of throughput and reliability. If the primary crusher goes down, the chances are there will be no backup unit to take over. The plant runs through its fine ore stock, and then stops. For this reason, if for no other, properly scheduled maintenance is vital to ensuring crusher reliability, with the world's crusher manufacturers having invested a great deal in recent years in devising technologies that help make crusher maintenance simpler and safer. To provide an up-to-date view on the essentials of good crusher maintenance, E&MJ asked a number of the world's leading crusher manufacturers, lubricant suppliers and wear-parts specialists for responses to a questionnaire covering a range of maintenance-related issues. Aside from daily inspections, crusher maintenance used to be labor-intensive, hard work, especially when major components needed overhauling.

Online journal articles - EBSCO

Innovative hard waste and water management solutions increase batch plant efficiency by Construction Engineering Australia Abstract: An efficiently designed concrete plant drives significant productivity gains. Today, greater flexibility and efficiency in plant design is made possible by automation and control of inputs, cleaner vehicle flow, lower contaminants and more efficient mixing of the constituent components.

eBook

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy : 100 Years of Innovation (2014) Here is the information you need to face the ever-increasing technological, economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges of this industry and ensure long-term productivity and growth for your organization. Includes process mineralogy and laboratory automation.

Caterpillar's Mining Automation Journey (Extended Edition)

Caterpillar's Mining Automation Journey (Extended Edition) by Caterpillar Global Mining

Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto - Smart Mining How the data gathered from automation is making mining more safe and efficient.

BHP Billiton

Which technologies will boost mining safety and productivity? New uses for technology in the resources industry are regularly being uncovered. While much has been made of automated equipment; artificial intelligence and advanced sensors will also make mining operations more reliable and efficient, as well as help people make better decisions and keep them out of harm’s way.

Mining & Autonomous Operations News

The 'digital mine' is here as technology gallops ahead
Perth Now: Fears of skills shortage in mining sector Newport Consulting, which conducted the interviews with the mining leaders, said many had fears of a skills shortage, particularly in automated services such as self-driving trucks and drones.
FinFeed: Mining the latest industry to be hit by automation “We have a gap in the number of technical people trained up for future autonomous roles. Training and developing talent is a key way to stay ahead of disruptive automation and technology.”

Engineering, Mining & Surveying: Autonomous Operations

CODE OF PRACTICE: Safe mobile autonomous mining in Western Australia

Online journal articles - ProQuest

Online journal articles - EBSCO

eBook

Caterpillar's Mining Automation Journey (Extended Edition)

Rio Tinto

BHP Billiton

Mining & Autonomous Operations News

Jobs in Mining