Advanced assignment algorithms, smarter graphics and system-wide hardware commonality enhance fleet dispatch system value, improve safety and provide a platform for future equipment automation
By Russell A. Carter, Managing Editor
The complexity of large surface mines has long surpassed human ability to capture an accurate snapshot of real-time operational status by manual methods. The sheer volume of data emanating from production monitoring and measurement systems alone would overwhelm even the most sophisticated calculator model in seconds.
Nowhere throughout mine operations is this growing dependence on computer-system data gathering, analysis and decision-making more obvious than in haulage-fleet dispatching activities, where top-of-the-line fleet management suites have advanced well beyond the basic data-collection capabilities of their earlier versions and now can almost be regarded as expert systems, according to Ed Desjardins, senior manager–mining technology in Barrick Gold Corp.’s technical services group.
In a presentation at the 115th annual meeting of the Northwest Mining Association held in late November 2009 in Reno, Nevada, USA, Desjardins said fleet management systems not only help mines optimize the efficiency of their loading and haulage resources, but also can be used as a tool to improve safety as well as a platform to achieve additional automation in mining operations. Barrick, according to Desjardins, uses fleet management solutions from several major vendors including Caterpillar, Leica Geosystems/Jigsaw, Modular Mining and Wenco throughout its global operations.
He noted that the newest versions of fleet management systems offer highly sophisticated assignment algorithms in combination with less high-tech features that enhance system value and utility for the customer; these include a trend toward use of off-the-shelf hardware rather than proprietary designs for communications networks, along with improved onboard data storage capabilities so that information isn’t lost if network links fail, and smarter graphics design that does a better job of preventing trucks from getting “lost” in the system.
With the cost of large-screen LCD displays dropping below $1,000, Desjardins said it’s now easy and economical to equip dispatch stations with enough monitors to allow dispatchers to quickly see “everything that’s important” to the process. Furthermore, he suggested, at such low cost why not install large displays throughout the mine’s facilities to keep everybody aware and up-to-date on important operational status matters?
Despite the wide capabilities of the latest fleet management systems, it’s important to know exactly what factors are driving a mine’s productivity, profits and potential problems before making a selection, he cautioned—and then select the most appropriate system for that operation. Design the solution with close attention to system scalability and upgrade convenience. It’s not necessary to buy a full-blown mine management system if current conditions don’t warrant it: a number of vendors offer entry-level products that can later be upgraded as necessary in concert with mine expansions and production changes.
Command Performance
E&MJ recently had an opportunity to observe the latest version of a major fleet management system in action at Newmont Mining Corp.’s Carlin gold operations in Nevada, where the company began upgrading to version 3.0 of Caterpillar’s MineStar FleetCommander in 2009. Newmont’s Carlin mines were among the first in North America to use the latest version of FleetCommander; however, the initial North American installation of 3.0 was at a Canadian operation.
Gold Quarry, Newmont’s largest surface operation in the Carlin area, is the first of its Nevada mines to use FleetCommander 3.0 and at the time of E&MJ’s visit was in the process of fine-tuning the system’s dispatching capabilities. The mine is a large operation that employs about 45 haul trucks—mostly Cat 793C or 793D models, with some 789s—plus Hitachi EX5500 and EX2500 hydraulic shovels and Cat 994F wheel loaders. Mining presently encompasses three pits—two in the North Area and one in the South Area—with significant variations in gold grade from pit to pit. Overall, according to Steve Micheli, Newmont’s MineStar analyst for the Carlin surface operations, as many as 100 different material types are encountered throughout the active mining areas. Roughly 300,000 tons of material are moved daily, with waste-to-ore ratios varying widely from day to day.
Cat estimates that this latest version of FleetCommander can provide a 5% boost in efficiency over the previous version. Newmont’s Micheli said that even in the early stages of FleetCommander 3.0 implementation, he noticed an approximate 15% improvement in truck productivity when allowing the system’s assignment algorithm to run unhindered by any restrictions—a practice that Cat recommends after significantly enhancing the product’s core truck assignment engine for the 3.0 version.
The assignment module, for example, now can improve safety by helping mine controllers manage exceptional conditions. For example, when a truck goes off course, the assignment engine honors any pit traffic rules for entrance to or direction of travel along roadways. Off-course trucks can then be safely reassigned.
The assignment module also offers new blending functionality. Although this feature wasn’t being used by Newmont for in-pit operations at the time of E&MJ’s site visit, it enables the mine controller to specify the type and quality of materials delivered to the dump, stockpile or processing plant. However, at Gold Quarry, ore from the secondary crushing plant is reloaded into haul trucks for delivery to one of two nearby mills; FleetCommander controls this operation, automatically recognizing truck type/capacity and loading the appropriate tonnage.
Other new features and improvements include tire management capabilities that enable the controller to set a maximum TKPH/TMPH for an individual truck or a class of trucks. The feature is integrated with KPI summaries to allow tire management performance reviews. New software also supports decision making by evaluating “what if” impacts of making changes to the production plan during the current shift. A new embedded dashboard display enables mine controllers in the office to view shift-based and real-time KPI and production variance information. Graphics such as gauges, histograms and trend lines enable dispatchers to quickly interpret system-wide data.
According to Cat, an upgraded site editor and computer-aided-design capabilities also can eliminate the need for an external mine-site design program. This is an improvement that Micheli particularly appreciates, enabling him to update the current mine model using the MineStar site editor rather than having to switch to third-party software.
Another highly useful addition to version 3.0, said Micheli, is compatibility with the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system, which allows MineStar to obtain adequate satellite linkage in troublesome areas of the pit where a sufficient number of U.S. NAVSTAR satellites sometimes can’t be acquired. It’s almost too much of a good thing, according to Micheli, as the large number of available satellites from the two systems means GLONASS actually has to be turned off occasionally to speed up satellite acquisition time.
Newmont has equipped the Carlin operations dispatch office with numerous large, flat-screen displays that allow dispatchers to view a wide variety of task-related information. Outside of the dispatch center, one of the most useful applications of these displays, according to Micheli, is a screen that allows drivers coming on duty at shift break to see which bus to take to reach their assigned truck—reducing delays and improving equipment utilization.
Also contributing to higher driver efficiency is the practice of collecting and providing specific machine health data—identifiable down to shift and truck number—to the mine’s learning and development staff, which uses this information to determine overall training trends and topics, as well as to conduct more specialized instruction for drivers in need of corrective action.
FleetCommander’s machine tracking module now gives mine controllers the ability to monitor machine location for an entire fleet, increasing overall site safety. A playback feature can help analyze haul road congestion and replay near-miss safety incidents.
New Display, Standardized Hardware
New FleetCommander hardware includes an upgraded on-board display with 18% more viewing area and higher resolution. The touch screen enables operators to input information without memorizing keypad functions. In addition to FleetCommander, Newmont’s Carlin operations also employ Cat’s CAES and Aquila Drill systems on its bulldozers, excavators and six large rotary blasthole drills, respectively, and is working toward the goal of having information from all of these modules displayed on a single Fleetcommander display unit.
The same hardware is used across all equipment types equipped with Fleet-
Commander. Standardizing components reduces service parts inventory and decreases the burden on technicians. Additionally, the display and GPS receiver are now separate, which allows more cost effective repair of components.
The upgraded system now supports standard wireless protocols such as 802.11 and other IP wireless infrastructures. The expanded capabilities enable FleetCommander 3.0 to work with industry standard wireless communications networks, giving operations the opportunity to choose and implement infrastructure based on their site needs.
According to Cat, MineStar FleetCommander is a key building-block technology in the development of a Cat equipped autonomous mine. A key element in this advance is the Fleet-
Commander 3.0 assignment engine, which the company claims provides closer integration with the digital mine site model. Additionally, algorithm optimization and software improvements are targeted to future management of the Cat Autonomous Haulage System and Autonomous Drill System.
