A collaboration between mining original equipment maker Komatsu and Applied Intuition, a Silicon Valley-based, vehicle intelligence-focused company, to take mining haulage automation further.

Komatsu is a pioneer of the autonomous haulage system, introducing its first Frontrunner Autonomous Haulage System trucks into Rio Tinto's Western Australian iron ore mines in 2008. Those trucks carted waste.

Since then it has put 300 autonomous trucks into Rio Tinto's WA iron ore mines.

However, while they are called autonomous, it is the Frontrunner AHS that does the heavy lifting. The trucks are essentially controlled by the central system via remote control.

The trucks do have a host of systems on board that allow them to take individual actions if need be, such as if a light vehicle should stray into a truck's path.

What Komatsu is trying to do with Applied Intuition is take that autonomy a step further.

It does not seem to be turning each truck into truly self-driving machines. Nor does it appear to be the OEM-agnostic offering a lot of customers are looking for.

It will also not be the weirdest autonomous truck move Komatsu has taken. That would have to be the cabless truck – basically a tray on wheels – called the Innovative Autonomous Haulage Vehicle it put on display at Minexpo in 2016.

However, it does seem that it will bring a lot of flexibility and adaptability to the way autonomous mining trucks operate.

Komatsu and Applied Intuition will co-develop a unified software-defined vehicle and autonomy platform to serve as the central brain of Komatsu's next generation of mining equipment.

This platform will have features such as:

• Software-defined vehicle architecture to enable continuous feature delivery over the life of the machine, with native integration of data management, digital security and connected support;
• Flexible autonomy capabilities ranging from advanced operator assist to full autonomy on a common platform, adaptable across fleets, commodities and operational complexities; and
• Embedded machine learning and artificial intelligence that supports functional enhancements and continuous learning, enabling site-specific optimisation as conditions change.

Komatsu mining business division president Peter Salditt said the collaboration represented a step change in how it would bring innovative, high-performance technology to miners' operations.

"By combining Komatsu's deep mining expertise with Applied Intuition's cutting-edge AI and SDV solutions, we're enabling a future where our equipment continuously evolves to meet customers' unique mine site needs."

Getting intuitive

Only about 3% of the world's mining trucks operate autonomously.

Some of that is due to operational challenges that make the application of autonomous operation too difficult.

In part, this collaboration aims to bring greater flexibility that will enable some of these tougher operations to consider AHS.

Applied Intuition aims to put advanced intelligence directly onto the vehicle.

Its technology stack is purpose-built for the tough environments, high operational demands and need for continuous improvement common to mines.

At the core are onboard systems for autonomy, perception, planning, and safety.

These systems process data and make decisions locally, reducing dependence on expensive, high-bandwidth networks and continuous high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System signals. If the network or GNSS connection drops, vehicles keep working – safely and without interruption.

Dynamic path planning lets vehicles detect and navigate around obstacles in real time. AI-enabled collaborative mapping automates site updates, eliminates manual surveys, reduces labour costs and keeps operations moving.

Beyond autonomy, Applied Intuition and Komatsu are looking features such as Surround View and Collision Avoidance Systems to enhance site safety.

Applied Intuition co-founder and chief executive officer Qasar Younis said the team was looking forward to breaking new ground, digging into the future and doing it all at Silicon Valley speed.

"In a world where autonomy is becoming the norm, our goal is to ensure our customers don't just keep up – they lead," Younis said.

"The mining industry is one of the most regulated in the world, and as the bar keeps rising around emissions, human safety and geopolitics, Applied Intuition and Komatsu plan to build the next generation of mining products and redefine modern software product development."