An Automation Journey (4:22min)
RCT’s autonomous technology solution for surface-based mobile mining equipment is taking shape thanks to the hard work and innovation of some of our brightest minds from across the company.
The new solution forms the next major step in our autonomous technology offering for global mining companies, who for decades now have benefitted from our Line-of-Sight, Teleremote and autonomous underground technologies.
The autonomous package has been fitted onto a Polaris ATV which is being used as a testbed for our collection of LIDAR, GPS and data technologies.
The work is being spearheaded by Kevin Winchester for Product Management, Tom Egling from PoCWorks and Jayden Rickert from Operational Technologies. Head of Product Management Brendon Cullen says the Polaris will showcase the solution to clients.
“Going forward, we can easily demonstrate the Polaris’ capabilities and show that our technology integrates with a battery electric vehicle, which is an area of interest for many mining companies.”
“We can put the Polaris through its paces locally and test scenarios and access data without having to access a mine so testing on a smaller, more compact vehicle it is a lot more beneficial for our workflow.”
Brendon said they are developing the solution to integrate with dozers and wheel loaders to suit niche applications, with the first dozer solution to be deployed within a year.
“By rolling out this technology on a mine our clients will start to see enhanced fleet activities and improved productivity whereas our LOS and Teleremote solutions were more focused on safety improvements.”
World-leading autonomous solutions specialist RCT has fulfilled requests from mining clients and devised a unique warning system designed to prevent oversized equipment from getting stuck inside underground mining portals.
Staff from RCT’s branch in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia were separately approached by two major mining clients in the Goldfields and asked to devise a solution to prevent portal blockages which can severely disrupt regular mining operations.
Branch technicians subsequently produced the Over Height Portal Warning System which consists of a laser mounted at a particular height connected to a unit placed at the portal entrance.
The unit will produce an audible alarm and flash the word “STOP” to alert machine operators and nearby site personnel there is a potential over-height hazard.
Site personnel are able to determine the system’s field of view and isolate areas such as a corner or pole so that the system will only activate when it senses new objects.
RCT Kalgoorlie Branch Manager Rick Radcliffe said the local technicians were happy to rise to the challenge set by the company’s clients.
“The system was designed and built in our workshop here in Kalgoorlie and we supplied it to our clients who were quite happy with the result,” he said.
“Occasionally underground haul trucks try to re-enter the portal with their trays accidentally in a raised position and this causes the trucks to get wedged in the portal.”
“The time needed to dislodge the haul truck from the portal is very costly to the mining operation.”
“Therefore, the Over Height Portal Warning System is a cost effective and easy solution that will help keep mining operations running smoothly.”
Since its development the Over Height Portal Warning System has been sold to 10 mine sites throughout the Goldfields.
RCT is proud to announce its latest project with a leading diamond producer in Botswana to help improve safety and productivity at its mine sites.
RCT’s ControlMaster® Teleremote solutions will be installed on two Komatsu D475-5EO dozers to safeguard operators utilising the machines on site by removing them from the cab of the machine; allowing them to control the dozers from the safety of mobile Control Centres.
This particular job is being carried out by the company’s specialised bespoke department, RCT Custom and is expected to be deployed in August 2018.
Stay tuned for more on this project…
