From Safety to Skills Gap: The Key Role of Interconnectivity in the Future Development of the Mining Industry

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer significant growth potential for the mining industry. As of July 2024, GlobalData's Mining Intelligence Center (MIC) tracked 2,080 autonomous haulage trucks operating in open-pit mines globally. This number is expected to increase to approximately 2,800 by 2026, as operators increasingly recognize the benefits of using remote/autonomous machines in mining environments to improve safety, reduce costs, increase productivity, lower maintenance costs, reduce machine damage, extend equipment lifespan, and reduce manpower.

However, the mining industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technologies. While a cultural shift towards embracing innovation and collaboration to accelerate digital transformation is clearly needed, overcoming ingrained legacy mindsets within the industry remains a significant challenge.

Connectivity Challenges

Widespread adoption of such technologies, especially Level 4 and 5 autonomous vehicles, will require 5G and the accompanying wireless networks. 5G is capable of handling significantly larger amounts of data at speeds far exceeding existing mobile networks, with latency lower than previous standards. Due to the complexity of autonomous tasks, AVs are expected to generate and request massive amounts of data and require continuous communication with other vehicles, intelligent driving environments, and cloud-based intelligent support. Therefore, a fully functional and scaled 5G network is crucial.

The need for such infrastructure has proven to be a major barrier to the adoption of transformative technologies like AVs, with many sites facing limited network coverage, insufficient bandwidth, inconsistent equipment standards, low collection rates, and heavy reliance on manual inspections.

Connectivity issues in the mining industry span multiple facets, significantly impacting operational efficiency, safety, and communication. For example, many mining operations are located in remote areas with limited or no reliable internet connectivity infrastructure. These remote locations complicate the installation and maintenance of communication systems, leading to increased costs and operational inefficiencies.

Many operations still rely on outdated networks that are simply unable to provide the necessary latency and reliability for modern applications.

Jack Chen, Chief Marketing Officer, Huawei Oil, Gas and Mining Business Unit, said: "Connectivity is a major issue. This is particularly problematic for underground operations, as personnel often work in hazardous or uncomfortable environments."

"Huawei is leveraging its strengths to support the industry's digital transformation. Of particular emphasis is our commitment to enhancing operational safety and enabling employees to work in more comfortable environments, away from hazardous conditions."

Crucially, this involves creating a digital ecosystem and IT infrastructure based on AI capabilities to help support leaps in productivity.

New Heights of Automation

In the mining sector, Huawei, together with numerous partners, has implemented over 100 scenario-based mining applications based on the Pangu mining model, providing a suite of automation tools that eliminate manual processes and ultimately help customers, partners, and developers put AI into practice.

Leveraging end-to-end wireless communication networks, establishing connections to ensure mining operations safety, and enabling remote control of remote high-altitude mines and tailings ponds. Huawei's core network 4G/5G common platform's unified control plane simplifies operations and maintenance, and its core network dual-machine backup, geographically distributed disaster recovery, and high reliability guarantee effectively address the inherent safety and efficiency issues faced by on-site production personnel.

Shao Jianjun, Vice President of Huawei's Latin American Enterprise Business Department, Mining and Oil & Gas Industry, said: "We have helped customers achieve remote control and autonomous driving in open-pit mines under extreme climate conditions such as high altitudes and deserts. The online rate of mining trucks has reached over 99%. We have established innovative partnerships with customers in the Middle East, Brazil, Algeria and Angola, focusing on intelligent mining and intelligent oilfield construction."

Huawei has assisted multiple global mining companies in achieving regular unmanned operation in open-pit mines. For example, at the Yimin open-pit mine, Huawei played a key role in planning the deployment of 100 unmanned vehicles before 2025, ensuring the mine could operate around the clock. At a high-altitude mine in Lanping County, Nujiang Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, the introduction of an autonomous driving engine allows vehicles to easily handle sections of road that are typically difficult for human drivers. Currently, autonomous trucks are equipped with a driving trajectory planning module that adjusts vehicle speed according to the terrain.

In addition to handling complex terrains, engineers have added a mixed fleet management function that can manage not only autonomous vehicles but also manned vehicles and remotely controlled excavators. This coordination capability helps ensure stable operation of drivers throughout the driving route. This solution, jointly developed by Huawei and partners, utilizes a cloud platform to operate a unified mine brain, planning paths for multiple vehicles to avoid conflicts. Path planning includes key coordinates, driving speed, estimated arrival time at each key node, and the control modes required for different vehicles. This ensures even vehicle distribution across the work area and avoids congestion.

Driving Transformation

Automation measures not only improve efficiency and ensure continuous operation in challenging environments, but also effectively address the skills shortage plaguing the industry. Mining executives are finding it harder than ever to attract and retain the necessary talent, and mining companies are under pressure to create safer and more inclusive work environments to attract young talent.

"Many mining environments are neither safe nor conducive to work," said Mr. Chen. "We can deploy systems like remotely controlled drilling and earthmoving machinery, or autonomous trucks, in challenging locations, meaning fewer people working in these environments. Instead they can work from the comfort of an air-conditioned room."

As the industry focus shifts towards technical roles, particularly due to advances in automation and digitalization, there is a growing need for a workforce proficient not only in traditional mining practices but also in new technologies.

"Existing workers need to upskill, and we can provide that training," said Mr. Shao. "The introduction of new technology is not necessarily about reducing the workforce, but rather enabling employees to perform their work remotely and safely."

Intelligent Transformation

Today's mining companies face three key challenges: safety, recruitment and efficiency. They are increasingly struggling with overall low production and inefficient transport, inefficient vehicle scheduling and high fuel costs. Operations of trucks and excavators often lack coordination, resulting in delayed production data updates, less-than-ideal mineral allocation schemes, and ultimately lower product quality.

Automated operation is a crucial step forward for the industry, helping to address all these issues, but this can only be achieved through intelligent transformation, strong networks and reliable connectivity.