The Autonomous Mining Working Group is focused on assisting the industry with its ongoing digital transformation and helping operations achieve the benefits that autonomous systems can offer. The group is built by subject-matter experts, leaders from inside and outside the industry, suppliers, operators, and those interested in implementing autonomous systems in mining.
OBJECTIVES
- Improve safety and productivity in mining operations by identifying and offering guidance on key challenges and documenting good practices for autonomous mining.
- Enable a global network of multidisciplinary subject-matter experts, leaders from inside and outside the industry, suppliers, operators, and other stakeholders in fields related to autonomous mining to share lessons learned and best practices and drive valuable conversations.
- Set a common vision for autonomous systems in mining among diverse stakeholders and facilitate innovation and digital transformation in mining.
WHY AUTONOMOUS MINING MATTERS
The mining industry is increasingly embracing automation as a safety and productivity enabler and as a critical factor in creating a sustainable future of mining. For these reasons, automation is a key part of many mining companies’ digital transformation roadmaps alongside advances in artificial intelligence, system integration, remote operations, and the Internet of Things.
While autonomous mining is innovating the mining industry, it also introduces new challenges, such as:
- New security and safety risks can be introduced by the reliance that these systems have on technology to manage safety-critical functions
- Changes to the size and shape of the workforce, which can also have a social impact beyond the operation
- Adaptations to mine design and planning
- Potential changes to regulatory requirements
- Accommodating the rapid transformation of technology by building the system infrastructure, mine design and operational processes so that the operation can continuously adapt
ACTIVE PROJECTS
Implementation of Autonomous Systems in Mining v2
The project aims to provide a common resource or playbook for mining companies negotiating the rapidly changing landscape around autonomous technologies. Version 2 is under development and will update the content to reflect the rapidly changing landscape around autonomous technologies. Learn more
Small Vehicle Automation
Small vehicle automation can be an option for different types of operations(e.g., quarries, small-scale mining operations) that do not use large mining-scale haul trucks. It can also be an entry point for operations that are not ready for large-scale automation. There is also a growing diversity in vendors for smaller scale vehicles, which presents both opportunities and challenges. Learn more
OTHER ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES
Autonomous Mining Skills Migration Case Studies
The Autonomous Mining Working Group is collecting case studies on skills migration and upskilling from organizations that have implemented autonomous systems that mining companies can use to help make their existing and new autonomous mining implementations successful.
A key challenge to overcome when introducing autonomous systems in mining is the perception that this introduction will reduce jobs. The industry, however, has clear examples of autonomous system implementations that result in skills migration rather than job loss. To achieve the desired operating efficiency and productivity benefits of an autonomous operation, companies require resources with a different skillset from what is required from the typical mining equipment operator.
The published case studies from Vale, Rio Tinto, and two anonymous contributors are available in the publications section. Read the press release here
Do you have a case study you would like to share? Contact us
NEWS
System Safety for Autonomous Mining White Paper is Published!
The System Safety for Autonomous Mining White Paper has now been published. Thank you to all of those who were involved in this project and contributed to the publication of this white paper. We encourage you to share this white paper with your company and network and to get involved in future projects on system safety.
GMG PUBLICATIONS
2021 Sept | System Safety for Autonomous Mining White Paper
CASE STUDIES
KNOWLEDGE SHARING PRESENTATIONS
Robotics Employment Opportunities (Video)
Elliot Duff, Robotics Research Portfolio Manager at CSIRO, discusses advances in Robotics and the Employment opportunities that it provides. Click here to watch.