by Nick Drew | Fri 14 Oct 2016
Autonomous Komatsu innovation in motion
At the recent MinExpo event in Las Vegas Komatsu displayed its new Autonomous dumptruck concept, another step in the direction of machines that are no longer reliant on the human element in the cab.
This video which uses amazing CGI as we see just how these machines might work out in the field performing the often repetitive work that can become tiring for operators especially during long shifts that are required in mining applications. Of course large fleets of autonomous trucks are already working in some locations around the world but most of those are converted regular trucks.
The difference with this Komatsu dedicated version is that it doesn’t really have a front or back. It can drive in either direction equally well thanks to four-wheel steering, which in turn means a mining operation doesn’t need to allocate space for one of the massive vehicles to turn around after each trip so a driver can see where they’re going. It can simply shuttle back and forth, reversing direction as needed.