Komatsu’s FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System Can Now Run On Private LTE Networks

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Komatsu recently announced that its FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) can now operate on private LTE mobile broadband networks. The company took part in a one-year qualification program and tested FrontRunner on Nokia’s Future X mobile broadband infrastructure, which is a popular LTE solution for mining operations, at its “proving grounds” in Tucscon, Arizona. Komatsu points out that this development provides “ultra-high availability and reliability, while adhering to Komatsu’s renowned safety standards” for operating unmanned mining trucks.

An Industry Milestone

“This industry milestone represents a key step in Komatsu’s exploration of private LTE and highlights Nokia’s role as the leading global supplier of mission-critical solutions and services for the mining industry,” says Luiz Steinberg, global officer of Komatsu and president and CEO of Modular Mining Systems. “As the leader in autonomous haulage technology, we are firmly on our way to helping the industry move the next billion tons of material with autonomous technology. We have come together with Nokia to further this vision of delivering increased value to the mining industry.”

Sign Of The Times

Komatsu says the mining industry is transitioning away from Wi-Fi and other “less predictable wireless technologies” in favor of private LTE networks, which “improve security, capacity, and overall performance within a multi-application environment.” This allows mining operations to be more agile, mobile, and flexible while still providing a safe working environment. Safety is at the core of FrontRunner because it aims to move workers out of potentially dangerous environments, making it a natural fit for use with LTE networks.

Komatu says its “ongoing commitment to accelerate the pace of AHS adoption and innovation is reflected in the company’s other recent milestone—supporting customers to move two billion tons of surface material in the copper, iron ore, and oil sands industries autonomously.”

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Source: Komatsu