The number of Australian iron ore mines using driverless vehicles will increase from 32% to 45% over the next ten years, according to a new report issued by the information solutions and technologies company Timetric.
The report, entitled “Technology Investment Priorities in Australian Mining, 2014,” was based on data compiled from more than 110 mine managers, maintenance officials buyers and other key decision makers affiliated with more than 90 of the country’s mining operations.
Once considered cutting edge technology, driverless trucks are now widely accepted in Australia’s iron ore industry. Until recently, most of the vehicles were used on surface mine operations, but automation has been expanding in underground operations as well, where driverless load-haul dump trucks have been operating since 1990.
The three biggest mining companies — Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Fortescue Metals Group — all now use driverless vehicles in their operations and all are planning on expanding their use in the near future.
The report also found that Australia’s coal industry, which is based mostly on the eastern coast, also is planing on implementing expanded driverless technology into its operations.
In a perhaps related development, Timetric also found that many Australian mining companies are investing more heavily in collision avoidance technology. The company found that more than 30% of all mining companies plan to buy collision avoidance equipment over the next two years. The equipment allows heavy mobile machinery to monitor its surroundings and stop when it is likely to hit something or someone in its environment.