Brazilian miner Vale SA said on Thursday it has started using self-driving trucks for the first time at its Carajas complex, its largest iron ore mining operation, as it continues to expand its use of driverless technology.
Pedro Bemfica, director of the autonomous technology program, said Vale expects to increase productivity and safety by using trucks to transport iron ore.
The miner's six self-driving vehicles at Carajas are almost twice as long and three times wider than a conventional truck and are capable of transporting 320 tons of iron ore.
The Giants will operate in Carajas, in the state of Para in the northern Amazon, with a fleet of around 120 regular off-road vehicles. The company plans to add four more autonomous trucks by the end of the year.
The company estimates that trucks operating continuously and at higher speeds will reduce fuel consumption by approximately 5% and assist Vale's plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The costs associated with wear and tear should also be lower with less spending on lubricant and tires.
"The main goal is really to ensure safety," Bemfica said. "We started this technology in trucks with the goal of distracting people from natural risk."
The company's entire fleet of 13 off-road vehicles at the Brucutu mine in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais is autonomous and has not had a single accident since the technology was first introduced there in 2016, he said.
The executive said the company plans to invest $64 million in Carajas to increase its fleet of self-driving trucks to 37 units, but did not give a clear timeframe for when this will be completed.
Bemfica said Vale also owns four autonomous drilling rigs in Carajas and plans to add three more by the end of the year.
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