AUTONOMOUS
Due to their immense potential for improving safety and productivity, mining companies are investing in autonomous solutions. This working group is a global community that drives collaboration on the key challenges associated with autonomous systems and aims to help the industry achieve the benefits they have to offer.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY
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 introduced by the reliance these systems have on technology to manage safety-critical functions
- Changes to the size and shape of the workforce, which may 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
CONSIDERATIONS
ABOUT THE WORKING GROUP
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 the mining industry by identifying and offering guidance on key challenges and documenting good practices for autonomous mining
- Enable a global network of multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial professionals in fields related to autonomous mining to share lessons learned and best practices and drive valuable conversations
- Set a common vision among diverse stakeholders for autonomous systems and facilitate innovation and digital transformation in mining
ACTIVE PROJECTS
Autonomous System Safety
Applying a system safety approach and the benefits it can provide in delivering safe and effective autonomous systems in mining. Click here to read more.
Functional Safety for Autonomous Equipment
A common approach to the critical challenges of applying functional safety to autonomous systems. Click here for more.
Implementation of Autonomous Systems version 2
Given the latest technological changes, the project group is working on the second edition of the Guideline on Implementation of Autonomous Systems in Mining. Learn for more.
Autonomous Mining Skills Migration Case Study
This project aims to develop several case studies from organizations that have implemented autonomous systems. The study can then be used or referenced in marketing campaigns by existing and new autonomous mining implementations. Learn more.
GMG PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
2019 Aug | РУКОВОДСТВО ПО ВНЕДРЕНИЮ СИСТЕМ АВТОМАТИЧЕСКОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ В ГОРНОДОБЫВАЮЩЕЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕНННОСТИ. [Russian Translation]
This translation of the Guideline for the Implementation of Autonomous Systems in Mining– a joint effort between GMG and autonomous solutions provider RCT – is a great step towards expanding its reach to regions and sites where English is not the first language.
2019 Apr | Guideline for the Implementation of Autonomous Systems in Mining
The guideline provides a high-level framework for mining stakeholders to follow when establishing autonomous mining projects ranging from single autonomous vehicles and hybrid fleets to highly autonomous fleets.
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