Provisions and prospects for introduction of robotic geotechnologies in open pit mining

Abstract

The article presents the analysis of the current state of the open pit mining and points at the prospects for the development with introduction of robotic geotechnologies based on the intelligent control of mining and transportation equipment. The bases of the proposed approach is the robotization of open pit mining processes with a view to excluding presence of personnel in work areas. Today most domestic open pit mines are equipped and run the hardware/software communication and other-kind infrastructure that ensures introduction of the intelligent mining and transportation equipment in all open pit mining activities at the earliest possible dates. The introduction of the robotic geotechnologies may require re-designing of an open pit mine toward minimization of its parameters (working area width, haulage berm width etc.). The proposed approach will appreciably enhance an open pit mine efficiency, expand application of surface mining and increase the open pit mine design capacity at the simultaneous compliance with the requirements of ecological and industrial safety.The study has been supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Grant No. 14-37-00050.