Komatsu Ltd and Toyota Motor Corporation have launched a joint project to develop an Autonomous Light Vehicle (ALV) that will run on Komatsu’s FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System (AHS). The partners stated: “To realise further safety and productivity improvements in mines by running autonomous haul trucks and automated ALV controlled by AHS, Komatsu and Toyota are launching an effort to jointly develop new technologies. Both companies are currently testing a concept ALV at their proving grounds, and plan to have a proof of concept at a customer site by around January 2024.”

Toyota adds: “Minerals and energy resources are essential in our lives and industries. Autonomy offers the opportunity to remove people from harm’s way and enhance safety. It can allow our mining customers the ability to continue the hard work of providing critical minerals despite the ongoing challenge of labour shortages in the mining industry. It can also provide additional safety measures to mine sites on which multiple pieces of equipment are operated, in an effort to reduce accidents due to human error.”

Since the launch of the world’s first commercial application of an AHS in 2008, Komatsu has established proven performance in various mine environments and has earned a reputation for safety and productivity. Currently, when AHS-enabled autonomous haul trucks and manual light vehicles used for maintenance or transport are running on haulage roads at the same time, autonomous haul trucks may decrease their speed or stop when passing light vehicles to avoid possible collisions caused by human error. On the other hand, customer demand for improved productivity in mine operations when it comes to autonomous haul truck operating efficiency remains an issue.

In light of those circumstances and in an effort to solve those issues quickly, Komatsu and Toyota have joined together to accelerate autonomy in mines. Komatsu will develop a new management program for ALVs on its AHS supervisory system, and Toyota will develop ALVs running automatically under AHS control.

By operating Komatsu’s autonomous haul trucks and Toyota’s ALVs in mine sites utilising a common AHS, the companies say the following safety and productivity improvements will be realised across the mining operation:

• ALVs operating safely along haul roads
• Prevent accidental contact caused by driver, as may happen with existing manual light vehicles
• Minimise speed reductions or brief stops of autonomous haul trucks while passing light vehicles on a haul road

Toyota’s ALV autonomous operation will also accelerate further improvements and add functions that contribute to safety and productivity:

• Autonomous transfer of parts for other mining equipment working in the field
• Autonomous transfer of equipment operators for other machines such as loading equipment or bulldozers

Komatsu will develop a new ALV management program on its AHS while Toyota will develop an ALV which runs autonomously under the control of the AHS. Since Komatsu launched the world first commercial application of AHS in 2008, the company has deployed over 650 trucks at 22 sites in five countries as of May 2023.

The statement continued: “Komatsu AHS has earned a high reputation for safety and productivity from major global resource companies. Toyota makes safety a top priority and aims for zero casualties from traffic accidents as its ultimate goal. Toyota has been developing safe and automated driving technologies as part of its vision to provide ‘Mobility for All.’ In this development collaboration with Komatsu, Toyota’s automatic driving technologies will be utilised to contribute to the safety of people in their workplace.”

Komatsu adds that it will strive to create new values in order to take steady steps forward to the next stage for the workplace of the future and pass on a sustainable future to the next generation through the DANTOTSU Value. DANTOTSU Value is defined as customer value creation that generates a positive cycle of improvement of earnings and ESG resolutions in Komatsu’s mid-term management plan, entitled: ‘DANTOTSU Value – Together, to ‘The Next’ for sustainable growth.’

Komatsu and Toyota say they share a vision for developing an affluent and sustainable society to pass on the next generation. To do that, they say they are accelerating efforts to realise smart and clean future mine sites, leading to higher safety and productivity for their customers and partners.