Komatsu Australia unveils first smart mining dozer

Following the successful rollout of Komatsu’s intelligent machine control (iMC) on its smaller and mid-sized dozers in the past few years, the company has released its first mining dozer with fully integrated iMC for mining applications.

According to Komatsu, the D375Ai-8 ‘intelligent’ dozer can carry out both bulk and final trim dozing in fully automatic mode from start to finish, delivering final grade accuracy and significant cost-savings.

The 72.9 tonne D375Ai-8 is powered by a US EPA Tier 4 Final emission certified Komatsu SAA6D170E-7 diesel rated at 455 kW in forward gears, and 558 kW in reverse, to provide more reversing power.

“The concept has been shown to significantly increase productivity and efficiency – up to twice as productive as dozers fitted with ‘bolt-on’ third party machine control systems according to Australian users and operators – while reducing the cost of each metre of material moved,” said Komatsu Australia’s Mining Product Manager, Michael Hall.

“This will deliver major benefits to mining operations across the board, whether in bulk overburden moving, chasing thin or narrow seams, for mine infrastructure works, for stockpile management, or in rehabilitation projects,” he said.

Hall said Komatsu’s intelligent Machine Control is another step on the path to fully autonomous dozer operation.

“In addition, this technology offers significant safety benefits in stockpile applications with a remote control-ready option available,” Hall said.

The D375Ai-8 intelligent dozer incorporates as standard a factory-installed fully integrated Global Navigation Satellite System machine control system.

“Because the machine control system is fully integrated, it eliminates the need for coiled cables between machine and blade, the operator or service technicians don’t have to climb up on the machine to remove and replace antennas or masts, and there’s no requirement for daily connections and recalibrations,” Hall said.

“As well, an enhanced sensor package combined with an intelligent logic system provides for high accuracy in a fully integrated system without the need for traditional blade-mounted sensors – which can be subject to damage, theft or vandalism.”

Komatsu’s integrated Machine Control system automatically controls blade elevation and tilt according to target design data, using common industry standard design data software and systems.

“With these machines, not only can the automatic machine control features be used for final grading but also for bulk dozing – a capability which is unique to Komatsu intelligent dozers,” Hall said.

“Loading of the blade at the start of the cut is controlled via set parameters; during the pass, if the load on the blade increases, automatic blade control manages the load and minimises shoe slip, ensuring effective dozing at all times.

“Then when the material level approaches the target design surface, the machine reverts to fine blade control for close final grading.”

Through use of the technology, experienced operators have reported increased productivity over traditional operations, allowing them to move more dirt in less time.

Dozing progress can be checked using the integrated as-built mapping display, which collects surface data by continuously measuring actual elevations as the machine operates.

This data is communicated back to the planning software to enable monitoring of actual material movement by planning and management personnel.

Komatsu’s intelligent dozer technology is readily integrated with its SMARTCONSTRUCTION offering, which combines drone-based survey and site management systems and cloud-based information offerings to design, plan, construct and manage mining, quarrying and construction operations.

“When Komatsu released our first intelligent dozer, the 20 tonne D61EXi/PXi-23 construction dozer in 2014, the technology was described as fully scalable to other machines in our dozer range,” Hall said.

“We proved this with the release of three additional iMC dozers in 2016, and now we’ve extended the technology to our mining-sized D375Ai-8.”

The D375Ai-8 is based on the recently released D375A-8, which features a combination of a fuel-efficient low-emission engine, increased reversing power and enhanced chassis and track frame durability to deliver significantly lower operating costs per metre of material moved.

The Tier 4-compliant diesel engine under the bonnet not only reduces emissions compared with previous generation engines, but also reduces fuel consumption through a heavy duty EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system, a hydraulically driven radiator cooling fan and auto idle stop, according to Komatsu.

Production efficiency is enhanced through increasing engine power by 20 per cent when in reverse, reducing cycle time in downhill dozing applications – the most efficient method of bulk dozing.

“Compared with our previous generation D375A-6, production in downhill dozing is increased by 18 per cent,” Hall said.

Other features of the new dozer include Komatsu’s automatic transmission with lockup torque converter for reduced fuel consumption and greater powertrain efficiency, automatic gearshift transmission, improved ride and operator comfort levels, better visibility to the blade and ripper, and maintainability enhancements, Komatsu added.

“The D375A-8 was a significant advance in dozer technology in terms of improved performance, productivity, operator comfort and ease of maintenance,” Hall said.

“Our new D375Ai-8 intelligent dozer takes that technology to the next level through its integration of machine control and its benefits to all types of dozing operation.”

Apart from mining, the D375Ai-8 is also suitable for use in quarrying and heavy construction applications, Komatsu added.