We watched a Zyfra webinar and summarized its key ideas.
Current industry trends
Around 2,100 mining robots have now been deployed worldwide, including 700 in China. By 2035:
— 5-7% of the total fleet of dump trucks will be robotized
— 50% of operations related to drilling and transportation of rock mass can be automated
— The share of automated drilling rigs will increase by +80%
— Fully automated excavation of rock remains difficult to achieve.
Around 25% of mining tasks, such as auxiliary haulage and maintaining spoil heaps and fences, remain unattractive for robotics because their current cost is low.
BelAZ haul trucks account for 70% of equipment suitable for robotization in the EAEU.
What is needed for this
An autonomous machine needs a coordinated set of equipment and systems to perform a defined task and stop safely in an emergency.
Economic benefits also require multiple machines to be managed as one system.
— 20-40% – productivity growth due to continuous work cycle
— Reduced fuel consumption thanks to optimized routes
— Longer equipment and tire life through smooth maneuvering
— Balancing of drilling loads (increase of drilling speed, reduction of fuel consumption, increase of service life of drilling bits)
— Increased safety by eliminating human factors and reducing the number of personnel in high-risk areas
— Saving on lighting by using high-precision satellite positioning
— A fourfold reduction in staffing, alongside new maintenance roles for autonomous vehicles
Additionally, robotic systems allow the introduction of new logistics solutions, for example:
— Use single-lane roads with passing places, reducing infrastructure costs
— Maintaining and operating spoil heaps simultaneously without reducing productivity.
The main challenge: the rhythm of work
Production must be divided into stages and each stage controlled. A haul truck cycle may have 12 stages. Implementation proceeds gradually through pilot, preproduction deployment, and rollout to reduce downtime.
Experience of Russia
Izykhsky Mine in Khakassia, where Connectum supplies equipment, operates a test area for overburden haulage.
Contact our project engineers to learn about Connectum’s mining robotics experience. We provide wireless coverage, install positioning sensors, and configure integration with the Karier fleet management system and other platforms.