In a world-first technology project, global mining company PT Freeport Indonesia has rolled out a fully autonomous fleet of mobile rockbreakers at its West Papuan mine in partnership with smart technology specialist RCT.
PT Freeport’s industry-leading corporate policies mandate safer mining practices to remove personnel from working in areas of the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) and Deep Mill Level Zone (DMLZ) which are prone to wet muck rushes.
To fulfill this safety-driven mandate PT Freeport engaged RCT to implement its fully autonomous ControlMaster® Guidance product across the rockbreaker fleet.
This project is the first time ControlMaster® Guidance – which has more than 8 million hours of autonomous operation across Load Haul Dump (LHD) production fleets – has integrated with mobile rockbreakers.
The successful rollout of the rockbreaker fleet yet again demonstrates that ControlMaster® is a truly interoperable solution and can integrate with any machine make or model.
PT Freeport worked closely with RCT’s dedicated onsite technical team to commission the four mobile rockbreakers and extensively tested the machines in the underground panel cave mines.
The work forms part of PT Freeport’s overall mandate for RCT to automate the mine’s diverse underground ancillary fleet which includes the mobile rockbreakers, Getman Water Carts and Cat clean-up LHD machines.
In line with PT Freeport Indonesia’s overall mine development plan the fully autonomous ancillary fleet will operate in a designated Autonomous Mining Area (AMA) within GBC and DMLZ.
Going forward, machine operators will manage the ancillary fleet via ControlMaster® Automation Centres located within the state-of-the-art Remote Operations Room (ROR) on the mine’s surface.
By utilising the Automation Centre’s Multi Fleet Select (MFS) capability operators can switch control of the mobile rockbreakers, water carts or clean-up loaders in line with changing fleet requirements at short notice.
Working from the ROR safeguards machine operators from hazards found at the mine face and enables “hot-seating” which significantly reduces shift handover time across fleet operations.
RCT Account Manager Shane Smith said the technology significantly optimises mobile rockbreaker fleet operations in addition to safeguarding the machine operators.
“PT Freeport is a very innovative company and continually invests in new technologies to evolve their mining operations and RCT is very pleased to guide them on this journey,” Mr Smith said.
“The mobile rockbreakers are utilised in the extraction level draw points to clear larger rocks however these draw points are prone to wet muck rushes which represented a significant safety hazard to site personnel.”
“Initially, we commissioned the rockbreakers with our ControlMaster® Teleremote solution which allowed machine operators to directly manage the machine from the ROR.”
“ControlMaster® Guidance enables independent fleet operations including faster tramming and consistent machine operations and prevents the machine from impacting against the walls of very narrow draw points.”
“This solution reduces unplanned machine maintenance downtime while consistent machine operations allow for better planning and forecasting activities.”
RCT experienced Customer Service team will continue to work with site personnel to support the technology as the mine evolves.
Autonomous solutions specialist RCT has completed a project for Russian Cat® dealer Vostochnaya Technica (VT) on a fixed position rockbreaker in Siberia.
The pilot project involved commissioning ControlMaster® Teleremote on a fixed position BTI rockbreaker for a large Russian mining company at one of its operations in Siberia.
RCT also provided a Digital Vision Kit consisting of two fixed cameras and audio capability and a Fibre Optic Control Station (FOCS) located in site offices on the mine’s surface.
RCT’s Moscow-based CIS Business Development Manager Stephen Macarow said the rockbreaker was the latest RCT project to be completed at mines in the region.
“RCT was selected to carry out this project due to its experience in integrating automation technology in mining equipment of all makes and models,” he said.
“Operating the rockbreaker from the mine’s surface will safeguard machine operators while also giving them the chance to better utilise the machine’s capabilities.”
As well as installing its Teleremote technology onto the rockbreaker RCT’s bespoke solutions division Custom tailored the Teleremote package to the mining company’s specific requirement.
“RCT developed a unique auto-stow function at the request of VT and the mining company,” Mr Macarow said.
The auto-stow function means operators can simply push a button and retract the rockbreaker arm from the grizzly or steel grate over the ore pass and bring the machine to a parked position.
VT Technology Enabled Solutions Manager Alexander Voroshilov said the Rockbreaker project was the next good project with RCT which has benefitted the customer.
“In order to complete this turnkey project the VT Technology team has done big amount of work from equipment delivery from Australia to the mine site, Customs clearance, manuals translation and certification to on-site installation and commissioning under supervision of an RCT engineer,” he said.
“The key factor of the project success is the customer support and good collaboration with a partner, so we really appreciate our partnership with RCT and the customer assistance.”
RCT is continuing to provide ongoing technical and after-sales support to the mine site.