Komatsu unveiled a driverless autonomous rigid dump truck at MINExpo in Las Vegas, designed with no cab to maximise weight reduction and efficiently use the space on the vehicle, and scheduled for market introduction in the near future.
Featuring a four-wheel drive, retarder and steering system, and an even weight distribution system, the vehicle is aimed at high-performance material shuttling in forward and reverse travel directions, thereby eliminating the need for K-turns at loading and unloading sites.
Komatsu expects the new vehicle to considerably improve the productivity at mines where existing unmanned haulage vehicles have faced challenging conditions due to adverse weather and terrain conditions and confined loading spaces.
Komatsu first commercialised autonomous (but manned) hauling vehicles in 2008. Since then, AHS dump trucks have hauled over 1 billion tonnes of overburden and minerals at mine sites, mainly in Chile and Australia.
Product Specifications
- Nominal Gross Vehicle Weight: 416 metric tons
- Nominal Payload: 230 metric tons
- Gross power output: 2,700 hp (2014 kW)
- Maximum Speed: 40 mph (64 kph)
- Turning Radius: 52 ft. (15.9 m)
- Total Length: 49 ft. (15 m)
- Total Width: 28 ft. (8.5 m)
- Tire Size: 59/80R63
