Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NEXGEN-SIMS (NEXT GENERATION CARBON NEUTRAL PILOTS FOR SMART INTELLIGENT MINING SYSTEMS)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-05-01 bis 2022-10-31
The overall project objective of NEXGEN-SIMS is to develop and demonstrate digitalization solutions (such as robotization, automation and optimization in the fleet management processes) in combination with state-of-the-art mining machines, equipment and processes that enable carbon-neutral mining solutions. The demonstrated solutions will create an innovative NEXGEN-SIMS mining ecosystem that will enable an increased sustainable and efficient production of raw materials. By introducing and demonstrate these technology solutions the project contributes to making the mining industry more sustainable, carbon neutral, even safer and more attractive place to work, with a larger overall public acceptance. This to reinforce Europe’s market share on the global market for sustainable mining machinery and maintaining our global position.
Demonstrations of digitalization solutions (such as robotization, automation and big data analytics based on cloud based architectures technologies) in combination with state-of-the-art mining machines, equipment, connectivity and processes that enable carbon-neutral solutions, with advanced safety and performance, will also create the necessary know-how for the industry, the supply-chain and the workforce, while making investments more attractive which is fundamental for the foreseen industrial transformation and this is the optimal goal of NEXGEN-SIMS.
Demonstrations of digitalization solutions (such as robotization, automation and big data analytics based on cloud based architectures technologies) in combination with state-of-the-art mining machines, equipment, connectivity and processes that enable carbon-neutral solutions, with advanced safety and performance, will also create the necessary know-how for the industry, the supply-chain and the workforce, while making investments more attractive which is fundamental for the foreseen industrial transformation and this is the optimal goal of NEXGEN-SIMS.
The key aspect of the project is to develop autonomous carbon neutral mining processes. This includes the use of battery-electric mining equipment, full utilization of 5G for optimal connectivity, positioning, autonomous material handling, AI powered traffic and fleet control and collaboration among machines.
The project will focus on the scale-up of promising technologies and demonstrating their potential at mining pilots which will provide the mining industry with the necessary means of addressing the future challenges in sustainable mining. As an addition to the pilots, the project includes design thinking activities that will set the strategies for future mining regarding mining workplaces on human terms and safe introduction of autonomous carbon neutral mining machines.
The project is also focusing on the mine worker of the future – ‘the modern miner’ -and safety, for example by developing autonomous mine inspection technology.
The project aims to automate the unit operations and as such lead to efficient future mining. The fundamental technological blocks of the project will focus on integrating, evolving, and realizing them in three main demonstration pilots. These pilots focusing on to automate the material handling process within the mine.
The following pilots are included and defined.
1.Robotized measurement inspection before and after blasting. The robotized measurement inspections will be based on advanced autonomous robots (drones) that will have the capability to be deployed after the event of a blasting to perform the task of visual inspection and monitoring of the blasting area, analyse gas measurements, and evaluate the overall safety of the working after blast.
2. Autonomous Material handing at the face. The aim is to be able to transport blasted material from draw-point to ore-repository autonomously using battery powered machines.
3.Logistics (mixed traffic scenarios) The ore transportation will be demonstrated for managed mixed traffic. The definition of managed mixed traffic in this project would be manually operated machines equipped with sensors and related technology to simulate automated machines operated in a mixed traffic environment. This will be performed in a restricted area within the test mine.
The pilots are all based on previous or ongoing development by project partners, either in EU-, national- or privately funded projects and will finish on a TRL-level of 6-7 during the project.
To enable a battery powered machine to be autonomous in its cycle of performing the charging of the battery becomes central. In this project, we aim to tackle the options of concept and specifically investigate in a concept to charge the battery autonomously. The concept to be developed will be a future enabler for the fully autonomous battery-charging concept within a mine.
The project is now entering the second half of the project period and testing and pilot actions to be performed in a more intensive way.
The participating mining companies are making available a total of six different demonstration sites covering different types of geological conditions, ores and mining methods ensuring that the developed technology is broadly applicable and commercially viable.
The project will focus on the scale-up of promising technologies and demonstrating their potential at mining pilots which will provide the mining industry with the necessary means of addressing the future challenges in sustainable mining. As an addition to the pilots, the project includes design thinking activities that will set the strategies for future mining regarding mining workplaces on human terms and safe introduction of autonomous carbon neutral mining machines.
The project is also focusing on the mine worker of the future – ‘the modern miner’ -and safety, for example by developing autonomous mine inspection technology.
The project aims to automate the unit operations and as such lead to efficient future mining. The fundamental technological blocks of the project will focus on integrating, evolving, and realizing them in three main demonstration pilots. These pilots focusing on to automate the material handling process within the mine.
The following pilots are included and defined.
1.Robotized measurement inspection before and after blasting. The robotized measurement inspections will be based on advanced autonomous robots (drones) that will have the capability to be deployed after the event of a blasting to perform the task of visual inspection and monitoring of the blasting area, analyse gas measurements, and evaluate the overall safety of the working after blast.
2. Autonomous Material handing at the face. The aim is to be able to transport blasted material from draw-point to ore-repository autonomously using battery powered machines.
3.Logistics (mixed traffic scenarios) The ore transportation will be demonstrated for managed mixed traffic. The definition of managed mixed traffic in this project would be manually operated machines equipped with sensors and related technology to simulate automated machines operated in a mixed traffic environment. This will be performed in a restricted area within the test mine.
The pilots are all based on previous or ongoing development by project partners, either in EU-, national- or privately funded projects and will finish on a TRL-level of 6-7 during the project.
To enable a battery powered machine to be autonomous in its cycle of performing the charging of the battery becomes central. In this project, we aim to tackle the options of concept and specifically investigate in a concept to charge the battery autonomously. The concept to be developed will be a future enabler for the fully autonomous battery-charging concept within a mine.
The project is now entering the second half of the project period and testing and pilot actions to be performed in a more intensive way.
The participating mining companies are making available a total of six different demonstration sites covering different types of geological conditions, ores and mining methods ensuring that the developed technology is broadly applicable and commercially viable.
The project is aiming achieve the following results.
Design and demonstrate a 5G communication network optimized for mining defined use cases.
Autonomous drone inspection (visual monitoring, gas measurements and inspection) in environments with possible high safety risks in a mine.
Improved performance of the drill and blast cycle in the mine. Demonstration of autonomous bucket loading without human interaction to be performed.
AI enabled environmental perception and reactive navigation for enhancing local autonomy in machines and mining operations.
Collaborative automation of the material handling by utilizing machines, such as Load-Haul-Dumps (LHDs) and Trucks, working collaboratively together towards the overall objective of achieving complete automation of the ore flow.
Ore transportation (logistics within the mine) using autonomous machines that can either collaborate with manually operated machines or be used in the area, where the manual operations occur (managed mixed traffic)
Demonstrate a rock stress monitoring system to improve work safety and ensure appropriate working conditions aiming to maintain an efficient and uninterrupted technological process.
Implement telecom Operations and Maintenance (O&M) tools, services, and processes to the mining specific requirements.
Formulating a concrete vision for future mining workplaces on human terms – “the Digital Miner”. Also includes to formulate strategies for a safe introduction of autonomous carbon neutral mining machineries
To build social license to operate and social acceptance for European sustainable mining the project will communicate the project achievements different in social media channels and activities. The aim is increasing knowledge about sustainable mines and mining technologies and how they enable a sustainable society and through supply of raw materials.
Design and demonstrate a 5G communication network optimized for mining defined use cases.
Autonomous drone inspection (visual monitoring, gas measurements and inspection) in environments with possible high safety risks in a mine.
Improved performance of the drill and blast cycle in the mine. Demonstration of autonomous bucket loading without human interaction to be performed.
AI enabled environmental perception and reactive navigation for enhancing local autonomy in machines and mining operations.
Collaborative automation of the material handling by utilizing machines, such as Load-Haul-Dumps (LHDs) and Trucks, working collaboratively together towards the overall objective of achieving complete automation of the ore flow.
Ore transportation (logistics within the mine) using autonomous machines that can either collaborate with manually operated machines or be used in the area, where the manual operations occur (managed mixed traffic)
Demonstrate a rock stress monitoring system to improve work safety and ensure appropriate working conditions aiming to maintain an efficient and uninterrupted technological process.
Implement telecom Operations and Maintenance (O&M) tools, services, and processes to the mining specific requirements.
Formulating a concrete vision for future mining workplaces on human terms – “the Digital Miner”. Also includes to formulate strategies for a safe introduction of autonomous carbon neutral mining machineries
To build social license to operate and social acceptance for European sustainable mining the project will communicate the project achievements different in social media channels and activities. The aim is increasing knowledge about sustainable mines and mining technologies and how they enable a sustainable society and through supply of raw materials.