Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NEXGEN-SIMS (NEXT GENERATION CARBON NEUTRAL PILOTS FOR SMART INTELLIGENT MINING SYSTEMS)
Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2024-04-30
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 created an innovative NEXGEN-SIMS mining ecosystem that will enable an increased sustainable and efficient production of raw materials. By introducing and demonstrating (pilot) these technology solutions the project contributed 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, also created 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 was the overall 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, also created 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 was the overall goal of NEXGEN-SIMS.
The key aspect of the project was 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 focused 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 included design thinking activities that set the strategies for future mining regarding mining workplaces on human terms and safe introduction of autonomous carbon neutral mining machines.
The project also focused on the mine worker of the future – ‘the modern miner’ -and safety, for example by developing autonomous mine inspection technology.
The project aimed to automate the unit operations and as such lead to efficient future mining. The fundamental technological blocks of the project focused on integrating, evolving, and realizing them in three main demonstration pilots. These pilots focused on automating the material handling process within the mine. This was successfully demonstrated at Agnico Eagle mine in northern part of Finland.
The following pilots were included and successfully demonstrated (pilot) in a real mining environment.
1.Robotized measurement inspection before and after blasting. The robotized measurement inspections based on advanced autonomous robots (drones) that has the capability to be deployed after the event of a blasting to perform the task of visual inspection and monitoring of the blasting area, analyze gas measurements, and evaluate the overall safety of the working after blast.
2. Autonomous Material handling at the face. To transport blasted material from draw-point to ore-repository autonomously using battery powered machines running in fully autonomous mode without human interaction.
3.Logistics (mixed traffic scenarios) The ore transportation demonstrated for managed mixed traffic. The definition of managed mixed traffic in this project are manually operated machines equipped with sensors and related technology to simulate automated machines operated in a mixed traffic environment. This performed in a restricted area within the test mine for safety reasons.
The pilots were all based on previous or ongoing development by project partners, either in EU, national or privately funded projects and finished 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 developed options of concept and specifically investigate in a concept to charge the battery autonomously. The concept developed will be a future enabler for the fully autonomous battery-charging concept within a mine.
The participating mining companies made 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 focused 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 included design thinking activities that set the strategies for future mining regarding mining workplaces on human terms and safe introduction of autonomous carbon neutral mining machines.
The project also focused on the mine worker of the future – ‘the modern miner’ -and safety, for example by developing autonomous mine inspection technology.
The project aimed to automate the unit operations and as such lead to efficient future mining. The fundamental technological blocks of the project focused on integrating, evolving, and realizing them in three main demonstration pilots. These pilots focused on automating the material handling process within the mine. This was successfully demonstrated at Agnico Eagle mine in northern part of Finland.
The following pilots were included and successfully demonstrated (pilot) in a real mining environment.
1.Robotized measurement inspection before and after blasting. The robotized measurement inspections based on advanced autonomous robots (drones) that has the capability to be deployed after the event of a blasting to perform the task of visual inspection and monitoring of the blasting area, analyze gas measurements, and evaluate the overall safety of the working after blast.
2. Autonomous Material handling at the face. To transport blasted material from draw-point to ore-repository autonomously using battery powered machines running in fully autonomous mode without human interaction.
3.Logistics (mixed traffic scenarios) The ore transportation demonstrated for managed mixed traffic. The definition of managed mixed traffic in this project are manually operated machines equipped with sensors and related technology to simulate automated machines operated in a mixed traffic environment. This performed in a restricted area within the test mine for safety reasons.
The pilots were all based on previous or ongoing development by project partners, either in EU, national or privately funded projects and finished 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 developed options of concept and specifically investigate in a concept to charge the battery autonomously. The concept developed will be a future enabler for the fully autonomous battery-charging concept within a mine.
The participating mining companies made 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 achieved the following results:
Designed and demonstrated 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 in a real mining environment
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. This was successfully implemented and tested in real mining environment in the northern part of Finland.
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)
Demonstrated a rock stress monitoring system that improved work safety and ensure appropriate working conditions aiming to maintain an efficient and uninterrupted technological process.
Implemented telecom Operations and Maintenance (O&M) tools, services, and processes to the mining specific requirements.
Formulated a concrete vision for future mining workplaces on human terms – “the Digital Miner”. Also formulated 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 communicated the project achievements in several social media channels and activities. The aim was to increase knowledge about sustainable, efficient and safe mines and mining technologies and how they enable a sustainable society through the supply of raw materials.
Designed and demonstrated 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 in a real mining environment
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. This was successfully implemented and tested in real mining environment in the northern part of Finland.
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)
Demonstrated a rock stress monitoring system that improved work safety and ensure appropriate working conditions aiming to maintain an efficient and uninterrupted technological process.
Implemented telecom Operations and Maintenance (O&M) tools, services, and processes to the mining specific requirements.
Formulated a concrete vision for future mining workplaces on human terms – “the Digital Miner”. Also formulated 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 communicated the project achievements in several social media channels and activities. The aim was to increase knowledge about sustainable, efficient and safe mines and mining technologies and how they enable a sustainable society through the supply of raw materials.