KOMATSU has introduced its FrontRunner autonomous haulage system at
Rio Tinto’s West Angelas mine in Western Australia.
West Angelas is the second operation to install the system, which was piloted at a copper mine in Chile from 2005 to 2007.
The FrontRunner system comprises a full Komatsu fleet of mining equipment, including a PC5500 hydraulic shovel, D475A mining dozer, WD900 wheel dozer, GD825 motor grader, and five 930E-4AT autonomous haul trucks.
The autonomous trucks will navigate the complete mining environment at West Angelas to haul a 290t payload of overburden and ore without drivers.
According to the manufacturer, the system is “revolutionising productivity” at mines in isolated or severe environments and those suffering with a shortage of manpower.
Rio is paying close attention to the performance of the system, which is currently being operated in test mode, and plans to install the system to more of its Australian operations.
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