FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING UNMANNED HAULAGE TRUCK IN OPEN PIT MINE

Abstract

The use of autonomous trucks can significantly enhance the operational efficiency, sustainability, and safety of both small and large open-pit mines. Automation protects workers from accidents and unhealthy environments while also improving their efficiency and productivity. Autonomous trucks offer many advantages over manually operated trucks, providing a more comfortable and safer working environment for workers and creating greater economic efficiency for companies in the long term. Although autonomous trucks travel at slightly slower speeds than Manual trucks, they are more productive because they eliminate the need for shift changes and lunch breaks. They also increase fuel efficiency by reducing idle time, saving approximately 0.06 liters of fuel per tonne hauled, and improving utilization rates by 10–13%. While these figures may not seem significant at first glance, they result in substantial savings over the long term. However, implementing an automated system requires time, a large amount of capital cost, and potential challenges, such as worker concerns about job security, which must be carefully managed. For the successful deployment of autonomous dump trucks, several factors must be considered, with infrastructure and safety being the most critical. For example, mine roads should be designed without sharp turns or steep slopes, as the vehicle's sensor system may misinterpret sharp changes and cause accidents. Additionally, if a person or vehicle without a radio frequency identification RFID) tag enters the automated zone, there is a heightened risk of collision and serious accidents. Therefore, autonomous vehicle zones must strictly adhere to ISO road standards, and unauthorized persons and vehicles must be strictly prohibited from entering the automated sections of the mine. It also includes information on factors influencing fuel consumption in automotive performance, such as road gradient, adhesion and friction coefficients, wind resistance, and methods for calculating appropriate gear selection on slopes. Additionally, identifying the most relevant data for this type of research proved to be a significant challenge.