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Komatsu to supply 37 autonomous trucks to Brazil mine

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Komatsu says it has been contracted to supply 37 autonomous trucks to a mine in Brazil – the Carajás mine owned by Vale, a Brazilian mining company wth annual revenues of around $34 billion. 

The Carajás mine is said to be the largest mine in Vale’s 77-year history. The company says it is on a drive to leverage innovative technology to “reduce impact on the environment and enhance health, safety and operational efficiency”.

The 37 Komatsu vehicles are its 930E ultra-class electrical dump trucks (main picture), and they will form part of an Autonomous Haulage System at the Vale mine. [Read more…] about Komatsu to supply 37 autonomous trucks to Brazil mine

Competition to mine outer space could change mining industry on Earth

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For the past eight years, Nasa has been running a competition to find the team that can develop the best robotic systems to mine the moon. 

This year’s winners were announced recently, and Nasa gave out prizes and commendations for about 10 teams.

The discoveries made those 10 teams and all the others that entered the competition may end up in the mining industry here on Earth, long before they even take off for the moon.  [Read more…] about Competition to mine outer space could change mining industry on Earth

Volvo claims to be ‘first in the world’ with self-driving truck in underground mine

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Swedish automaker determined to take the lead in autonomous car technology

Volvo’s fully autonomous truck is the first in the world to be tested in operations deep underground in the Kristineberg Mine, in Sweden, according to the company.

The self-driving truck is part of a development project aimed at improving the transport flow and safety in the mine.

The truck will cover a distance of 7 kilometres, reaching 1,320 metres underground in the narrow mine tunnels.  [Read more…] about Volvo claims to be ‘first in the world’ with self-driving truck in underground mine

ABB to automate 13-kilometer long conveyor system at Chilean copper mine

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abb conveyor belt

Automation solution for transporting copper ore will operate at highest levels of availability and efficiency

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, won an order from Tenova TAKRAF Chile to automate one of the world’s most powerful conveyor belt systems to be built at Chuquicamata Mine in Chile.

The belt system will deliver copper ore from the underground mine directly to the concentrator plant, 13 kilometers away from the mine site.

When complete, the conveyor system will be one of the world’s largest and most complex, covering both steep gradients and long distances, with conveyors flights powered up to 20 MW and 55 MW in total. This is same amount of energy typically needed to power 41,000 homes.

In the final stage the system will transport over 11,000 tons of material per hour, the same freight as approximately 158 wagon trains.  [Read more…] about ABB to automate 13-kilometer long conveyor system at Chilean copper mine