As robots are quickly infiltrating the construction job site in order to increase efficiency and combat the shrinking labor workforce, so too have autonomous, self-driving vehicles.
We recently wrote about an autonomous attenuator truck that is set to hit US streets this year. That truck is equipped with a “leader-follow” system, which is designed to stay a safe distance away from and follow a leader car, which would be driven by a human. Attenuator trucks are designed to absorb impact of cars when struck to protect roadside workers.
This time, we’re talking about a 320 Ton Hauling machine with a highly sophisticated GPS system and sensors that allow the truck to operate 24/7/365 without a human driving in or near it. In the video below, you’ll see the Komatsu 930E-4 Autonomous Vehicle drive though rugged terrain in for the mining industry. Some of the areas that mining companies have to work in are in hostile or extremely remote conditions, making it difficult to find qualified professionals to fill the jobs. The self-driving system also increases productivity by approximately 12%, as it is not required to take occasional breaks and can’t call in sick to work.
Currently, Australian mining company Rio Tinto is using a fleet of Autonomous mega machines and they control them from over a thousand miles away at their control center in Perth, which is located in Western Australia. In total, Rio Tinto employs 53 autonomous vehicles for their mining activities.
Video by AutonomouStuff
