Cache Valley’s autonomous technology at work in Nevada gold mine

Brandon Taylor, a marketing manager at Autonomous Solutions in Petersboro, said they are using their software for a the largest major autonomous deployment in the continental U.S.

Autonomous Solutions, Inc. (ASI), tucked away in the shadows of the Wellsville Mountains in Cache Valley, has made significant progress in the world of mining technology recently. In June, the company began working on the implementation of multiple unmanned mining trucks for Barrick Gold Corporation.

This Komatsu 930-E Ultra Class haul truck has been retrofitted by ASI for automated use at a mine operation in Nevada.

ASI has been retrofitting and automating a fleet of huge Komatsu 930-EUltra Class haul trucks at the company’s Arturo Joint Venture operation in Nevada.

“It is one of the biggest autonomous haulage projects we’ve done,” said Brandon Taylor, a marketing manager at ASI. “And it’s the first major autonomous deployment in the continental U.S.”

He said, unmanned mining trucks are often programmed to drive to a load zone, where the bed of the truck is filled with material, travel to a dump zone, empty the truck bed, and drive back to the load zone to continue the cycle. At times they are required to pass other trucks on a narrow road without touching.

ASI uses Ford Escapes as surrogate vehicles to test how other vehicles will operate using the company’s propriety Mobius® control software. The surrogates hold up well on the test track, they are cheaper to use than a Komatsu 930-E, and Mobius® can work in either.

Brandon Taylor, a marketing manager at Autonomous Solutions in Petersboro, said they are using the same technology in their test vehicles as they use on the Komatsu 930-E Ultra Class haul trucks.

On the company’s 100 acre proving ground it’s wise to be on the lookout for unmanned vehicles in parking lots, walk ways and other places. During different times of the day there may be an unmanned Ford SUV going through a figure-eight course, a security robot patrolling the parking lot and farm implements being tested in a nearby field.

It’s the company’s Mobius® Command and Control software that allows operators to manage multiple autonomous vehicles from a remote location. Using Mobius, operators can set specific tasks and control critical vehicle functions like steering, shifting gears, accelerating and braking.

“There is a really strong case for using autonomous technology in mining,” Taylor said. “There are significant safety and labor benefits.”

He said the technology is not used to replace drivers but to retrain them. Operators are still needed; they are trained in a newer technology and operate the vehicle in an air conditioned office rather than being tossed around in a big truck on the job site.

There is less wear and tear on the body using a computer rather than driving heavy equipment.

“One of the challenges facing the mining industry today is recruiting and retaining talent,” Taylor said. “Many of the younger generation are not interested in doing this type of work. Using automation can help fill that talent gap and potentially attract younger employees, too.”

On ASI’s 100 acre proving ground they are constantly testing unmanned vehicles. It’s wise to be on the lookout for autonomous vehicles in parking lots, walk ways and other places.

Vehicles and equipment can be controlled from a desktop computer, a laptop or even a portable tablet with no driver aboard.

ASI was founded by Mel Torrie in 2000 and has since automated nearly 80 different types of vehicles in nine different industries with over 1,000 total automated vehicles. ASI driverless technology has also been used on six different continents.

International visitors fly in from all parts of the world to witness the technology in action.

The Cache Valley company is often recognized for its accomplishments in the robotics industry.

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