Truckmaker teams with Rio Tinto using XT 8x4 tipper
Scania is testing a new generation autonomous transport system at Rio Tinto’s Dampier Salt operations in Western Australia.
The confirmation comes 13 months after Scania senior management flagged the development, while keeping details close to their chests, and marks a tweak in Rio’s autonomous transport approach.
“Mining sites, given their high vehicle-utilisation rates, are ideal for testing new autonomous technology,” head of Scania Mining Björn Winblad says.
“The industry can reap the safety and productivity benefits of automation, and the experience gained here will be instrumental in developing fully autonomous solutions for other transport applications.
“It is very encouraging to note that the truck has been performing in a safe manner and in accordance with expectations with regards to the operations.”
The first phase of the trial began in August and involves a Scania XT R 450 8×4 autonomous tipper truck working separately from Dampier’s active operations.
Read how Scania signalled its Australian autonomous truck testing move, here
During this initial stage, a safety driver rides in the vehicle to observe the truck’s performance and, if necessary, intervenes.
In subsequent phases, additional autonomous Scania trucks will be added to develop vehicle-vehicle awareness and intelligent-fleet supervisory controls.
The partners note that Rio Tinto has pioneered the use of automation in the mining industry, with the largest fleet of driverless trucks, the world’s first fully-autonomous heavy haul, long distance rail network, and fully autonomous production drills.
“We’re pleased to be trialling this technology in trucks that are smaller than our traditional haul trucks,” Rio Tinto head of productivity and technical support Rob Atkinson says.
“This has the potential to give us more flexibility in the way we operate in a number of areas across Rio Tinto.
“We have seen automation create safer and more efficient operations in our business and this is a next step in evaluating options for delivering further improvements through the use of technology.”
The idea of flexibility in vehicle size chimes with Scania’s belief that overcapacity can be avoided using smaller trucks in mine haulage and similar tasks, especially in remote areas – with autonomy providing the “value proposition”, Winblad has said elsewhere.
With controlled spaces necessary this early in testing, Scania has nominated ports as a natural progression for autonomous vehicles after mine sites, with on-road applications a longer-term proposition.