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TRUCKS: SMS deploys largest Komatsu autonomous truck in Canada
ACHESON, Alta. – This month, SMS Equipment deployed the Komatsu 980E-4AT – the world’s largest autonomous Komatsu truck in commercial operation – to work at a Canadian mine. The Komatsu 980E-4AT is modeled after the proven workhorse 930E series. This…
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IRON ORE: BHP reports autonomous truck collision at Jimblebar mine
AUSTRALIA – BHP Group reported a collision between two autonomous trucks on March 16 at the Jimblebar iron ore mine in the Pilbara. The company blamed the accident on heavy rainfall. The company said the wet and soft ground caused…
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DATA MANAGEMENT: Why open standards are essential to the mining industry’s future.
From Wenco International Mining Systems comes this thoughtful essay on data management. The complete report is a “must read” for modern miners, so follow the link at the bottom of this item. VANCOUVER – Lately, every mining executive we connect…
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Caterpillar aims to please
Caterpillar’s mining team had a lot to talk about at its recent annual press event in Tucson, which CMJ attended in November. In October and November alone, the company introduced two new electric drive ultra-class trucks, a new drill capable…
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Bringing autonomous haulage to the oil sands
Several oilsands producers have started looking at the application of autonomous haulage systems and the use of driverless haul trucks to optimize transportation of oilsands from the mine to the processing facilities. This is a significant undertaking in the industry…
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TRUCKS: Komatsu’s FrontRunner automated trucks haul a record 2B tonnes
ILLINOIS – Komatsu America announced on Nov. 15 that the FrontRunner autonomous haulage system (AHS) has achieved the unprecedented milestone of more than 2.0 billion tonnes of material moved autonomously. The FrontRunner system has now hauled more than all other…
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OIL SANDS: Suncor to phase in autonomous haul trucks over six years
ALBERTA – Suncor Energy said on Jan. 30, 2018, that it will phase in autonomous truck haulage at all the projects it operates, starting with the North Steepbank oil sands mine. Over the next six years, the program will be…
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HAULING: Rio Tinto’s autonomous Komatsu trucks reach 1B-tonne milestone
AUSTRALIA – Rio Tinto’s fleet of autonomous haul trucks achieved a significant milestone at the company’s world-class operations in Australia last week by moving their one-billionth tonne of material. Since commencing trial operations in 2008, haul trucks fitted with autonomous…
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Seven trends driving drone adoption
The adoption of drones in mining is growing rapidly.
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HAUL TRUCKS: ASI, Liebherr collaborate on autonomous ready haul trucks
UTAH – Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI) and Liebherr Mining Equipment Newport News Co. are pleased to announce that Liebherr’s new autonomous ready haul trucks will be compatible with ASI’s autonomous command and control platform. Liebherr’s vision of an autonomous haul…
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Caterpillar offers stepping stones to full automation
How automation is improving the performance of heavy equipment in surface mining
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Converting to a wireless world
Converting an underground gold mine into an open-pit operation is no small feat, just ask Goldcorp Porcupine Gold Mines (PGM) about its historic Hollinger Project in Timmins, Ontario. When PGM officially closed the underground operation in 1989, after operating the…
