Cat and Newmont partner for autonomous vehicles

Caterpillar has teamed up with Newmont Mining to focus on the development of autonomous vehicles to assist its underground hard rock mining operations.

With assistance from Cashman Equipment Co, the agreement will initially focus on 'Command for Underground', the system for semi-autonomous and the remote operation of underground loaders, already found within the Cat MineStar platform.

Cat says Newmont is the largest user of its underground vehicle automation technology in the Western Hemisphere, with the technology already a big part of Newmont's Carlin gold mines in northern Nevada.

"Automating underground loaders enables machine operators to work safely and efficiently from a control room on the surface," said Graden Colby, underground operations manager, Leeville mine.

"In addition to enhancing safety, the semi-autonomous system increases loader utilisation, improves productivity and allows one operator to control two or more machines."

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The collaboration agreement seeks to improve existing technology and accelerate the validation and deployment of new features.

"Our business is built on cultivating long-term relationships to generate value for our customers," said Randy Schoepke, underground commercial manager for Caterpillar's mining technology group.

"Our agreement with Newmont allows two industry leaders to tackle challenges and push each other to achieve step changes in performance by making best use of real-world experience."