Pub. 8 2018 Issue 1

18 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY • 3D mapping: With high-resolution 3D maps, miners can be confident they are using an accurate map, which makes the entire mining process safer and less expensive. Carnegie Mellon University has developed robots that can autonomously map abandoned or active mines, and Rio Tinto is using 3D mapping software in places such as Western Australia and Rio Tinto Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine located in Utah. • Automated rail systems: Transporting minerals safely and securely was the goal behind Rio Tinto building an automated rail network to move heavy loads over a long distance. Runs in autonomous mode, but with drivers on board, began in the first quarter of 2017. The full pilot run took place in late 2017 in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The benefit of automating rail systems is the fact that it removes the problem of fatigued drivers and the potential for accidents. • Autonomous mine-site-infrastructure: In addition to its automated rail systems, Rio Tinto is also actively working to automate drilling and the use of haulage trucks so that they, along with the long-distance rail systems, can work in conjunction with operations. The goal is to control everything with one operational facility that lets the company operate miners, ports, and rail systems in a coordinated way. • Drones: Robots aren’t the only way to collect data points. Drones built by companies such as Darling Geomatics can be used to fly over job sites and collect data about buildings, foliage, equipment, infrastructure, signs, and topography. The drones at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott location can do more than map; they can also inspect equipment and survey crests, slopes, and walls. • Ore processing: In conjunction with partners that include universities and other companies, Rio Tinto has designed a system for processing ore that reduces waste and uses less water and energy. The system, called Copper NuWave, was tested in Australia under laboratory conditions and has been put to work at Rio Tinto Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine. Microwaves allow computers to determine how much copper is in rocks. The copper-rich rocks are processed; the ones with little or no copper are discarded. • Proximity detection systems: These systems are being implemented in mines just as they are in cars. For mining machines, the detection systems can stop the machine, send a warning signal, or both when it detects a person INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY continued from page 17