Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/201186
product report | by Tom Jackson TJackson@randallreilly.com The future has arrived Cat's driver-less mining trucks debut in Australia F or more than a decade, equipment OEMs have speculated on and explored the possibilities of creating equipment that that can run without an operator or driver. Now these concepts are being put to work in the field. This year Caterpillar launched a full-production, driverless system made up of eight Cat 793F "autonomous" trucks hauling iron ore at the Fortescue Metals Group Solomon mine in Western Australia. The mine's plan calls for scaling up production to include 45 autonomous trucks over the next few years. According to Cat, the benefit of autonomous operation is not just a reduction in payroll. It improves safety, eliminates operator error and improves scheduling, uptime and productivity by integrating with Cat MineStar telematics and condition monitoring. Building on technology What makes the technology behind Cat's autonomous truck program interesting and relevant to a broader construction audience is that some of it is new, some of it was developed for previous products and some is migrating to other applications. To get a handle on what they're doing you have to understand what Cat refers to as "capability sets," or what you might call "modules" in the MineStar system. The key element in the autonomous truck program is the "Command" capability set, which enables implement remote control and semi- or fully-autonomous equipment systems. In addition to "Command for hauling," which is the feature set for the driverless mine trucks, Cat has Command for dozing, drilling, underground applications and more. Another capability set is the "Detect" module, which pulls The truck uses GPS/GNSS signals and object detection together object detection sensors, technology to steer itself through the full load-dump and return cycle without a driver. proximity awareness software based on GPS/GNSS that the truck should back up under data feeds and images from on-board his bucket. cameras, to keep machines from getA controller, working inside a buildting too close to people, each other or ing on the perimeter of the site can obstacles. These collision avoidance instruct a truck or the whole fleet to systems have plenty of potential apstop in case of an emergency. And plications in construction and earthhe'll intervene to bring trucks in for moving activities and don't require the scheduled maintenance and refuelinvestment of a site-wide radio data ing, but otherwise the trucks steer network and GPS/GNSS reporting. themselves and select the appropriAdditional capability sets read senate speeds based on what its sensors sors on the truck to track and report detect and the traffic around them. on machine health, maintenance and productivity reports. Tested in Arizona The system was tested with four autonThe controller omous trucks at Cat's Arizona Proving At the mine sites the position locaGrounds for about a year. Cat tweaked tion information for the trucks and all the software to increase truck speed possible haul routes are plotted with and efficiency as a result of these trial satellite data. Algorithms determine the runs. Cat also gave the system a workoptimum route for the truck. The mine out in the BHBP Navajo coal mine in map is continuously updated in real New Mexico for about 18 months. time. For example, when dumping on Cat says there aren't any firm orthe ground, the system tells the truck ders yet for autonomous systems for where to position itself taking into mine sites in the United States, but consideration the last load dumped. adds that all the major mining comThe loader or shovel operator panies are studying the technology signals the truck that it is full via a closely. And Cat has similar "Comkeypad in the loader cab and the sysmand for underground" technology tem tells the truck to drive away. The working in more than a dozen mines loader operator then spots the next in several countries. EW empty truck and signals the system EquipmentWorld.com | November 2013 45