Rolls-Royce and Autonomous Solutions Inc. (ASI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding enabling Rolls-Royce to offer autonomous-compatible, Mobius-ready MTU engine solutions for equipment in a wide range of mining applications.
With its brand MTU, Rolls-Royce is a leading provider of advanced power solutions for a wide variety of applications, including mining equipment. ASI Mining is a leader in the development and sales of high-tech autonomous solutions for mining equipment and other machinery.
The companies plan to leverage their experience to offer customers engine solutions that are compatible with ASI’s vehicle automation software to help optimize vehicle power performance and efficiency, enabling more environmentally friendly and safer mining operations.
“We are excited to shape the mining industry’s future together with ASI and further leverage our advanced MTU technologies,” Global Director for Mining and Oil & Gas at Rolls-Royce Power Systems Scott Woodruff said. “Together we will offer our customers integrated future-oriented autonomous solutions. This agreement may help mining operators save big on operational costs and at the same time, reduce their environmental footprint by cutting emissions.”
“We are excited to start these discussions with Rolls-Royce Power Systems,” said Drew Larsen, director of business development for ASI Mining. “This is another testament to the interoperability of Mobius and real value it adds to our mining customers.”
One potential benefit to customers of Rolls-Royce and ASI Mining may be the ability to retrofit the power system on existing haul trucks and convert them to autonomous operation. The companies are interested in exploring the value customers would receive by modernizing their trucks with more efficient MTU engines along with implementation of ASI’s autonomous mining solutions. The customers would thus save on operating costs and further benefit from the increased performance of the autonomously optimized MTU engines.
