Limited testing of an automated underground loader at the Olympic Dam copper-uranium-gold mine in South Australia has been labelled successful by operator WMC Resources. The trialling has seen the loader tram 200m or more in full autonomous operation mode, with bogging by tele-remote control from a surface control room.

Australia's Mining Monthly understands the Olympic Dam “smart loader” has notched up more than 600 engine hours since commencing a new trial in July. It has typically operated in full auto-tramming mode for up to three minutes before switching back to tele-remote control for 40-50 seconds of bogging. A mass firing at the mine last month was expected to give the auto-loader a longer stint at a new location with a shorter tramming distance. Production rates are expected to rise.

While much more operating time is needed before meaningful conclusions can be drawn about the benefits of automated loader versus manual operations, WMC is understood to be satisfied the unit at Olympic Dam is moving tonnage (up to 10% of daily mine production at various times) comparable with manually operated loaders. It is also able to work through crib changes, firing times, dust and bad road conditions, all of which would limit the effectiveness of a manned loader. Machine operators themselves are said to prefer operating the semi-robotic loader.

Using technology developed in Australia by Melbourne-based Dynamic Automation Systems (DAS), the smart loader has been the focus of more than four years of research and development funded by WMC, the DAS joint venturers Lateral Dynamics and Caterpillar Elphinstone, and the Federal Government. WMC is one of the few global mining companies currently backing dedicated research and development of fully automated mobile mining equipment following the cessation of several overseas projects. Waiting in the wings at Olympic Dam is Autodig technology developed by Caterpillar Elphinstone, a system that will allow a loader to dig and tram (with the current auto-tram technology) continuously without manual intervention.

In its current form, tramming and dumping are controlled by the DAS software. The self-contained system requires no external navigation aids, such as light guidance or reflective strips on walls. It creates a map of the underground workings as it goes, comparing this to an abstract mine map and evaluating information in milli-seconds before making decisions.

“The success of this ambitious development project is an example of the patience and vision required in our industry,” said WMC chief executive officer Hugh Morgan.

“In this case, changes in technology have not only brought about circumstances for improving safety, but also for increased productivity. Technology developments like the smart loader require both innovative developers and patient, visionary supporters.”

Andrew Ransley, managing director of Caterpillar Elphinstone and chairman of DAS, said successful implementation of the technology was a “breakthrough of global significance”

“We have solved some difficult technical issues,” he said.

“With WMC we have demonstrated the potential of this revolutionary technology. We are now in the field-follow stage where we test the longer-term reliability and operability of the loader under production conditions and establish protocols for its wider introduction into mainstream production.

“Successful integration during the field-follow stage into normal operating practice has the potential to snowball to other mine equipment and beyond, and revolutionise major aspects of underground safety and mining practice.”