Infrastructural requirements for the implementation of autonomous trucks in open-pit mines

Abstract

The field of study of autonomous trucks especially in open pit mines has been the subject of considerable research over the past three decades. In the last ten years in particular, interest in this area has improved considerably. The implementation of autonomous systems is an integral organizational and cultural change. This work is a guideline for the safe and effective implementation of autonomous trucks in mines. It provides an integral view of the different approaches to implementing autonomous mining trucks with respect to safety criteria, operating costs, etc. It also presents the criteria and measures to be considered when maintaining the haulage routes (vertical/horizontal/combined alignment) that are a vital component for the success of an automation project. Mine site designers and planners should ensure that the design and construction of traffic areas for these trucks are compatible with autonomy and minimize interactions with personnel and non-autonomous equipment. A proposed infrastructural requirement for the autonomous truck zone is presented in this work.