XCMG delivers China’s first mining class teleremote excavator to Jiangxi Copper

Posted by Paul Moore on 3rd November 2020

Recently, China’s first larger tonnage unmanned hydraulic excavator for mining applications – XCMG’s 93 t class Intelligent Hydraulic Excavator XE950DA – was successfully delivered to Jiangxi Copper Group. The XCMG XE950DA utilises a 5G+MEC commercial networking solution & remote online construction operations technology to achieve remote operation in a 4G/5G environment, greatly reducing production cost.

At the same time, the shovel also has safety early warning functions such as personnel identification and alarms, excavator position monitoring, and XCMG says it fully guarantees the safety of surrounding personnel and equipment during the production process.”

The project was done in collaboration with Beijing-based startup Builder X which applied robotic automation technology to achieve precise moves as well as combined multiple sensors and strengthened the background algorithm to increase the accuracy and efficiency of the mechanism. This includes 360° proximity detection with zero blind spots. Founded in August 2018, Builder X’s main business is in providing remote-controlled construction machinery that can be used in mines, wind power plants, road construction and commercial construction, with the aim of improving safety and efficiency as well as reducing labour costs.

XCMG says a one-button automatic loading function enables the product to have a single bucket digging and loading cycle within 20 seconds, ensuring production efficiency for remotely operated mining. The company also says the mining excavator is already being fully utilised in active mining areas.

XCMG adds: “Large-scale, intelligent, and safe is an inevitable trend for the development of large-scale open-pit mining equipment. XCMG took insights into the production ‘pain points’ of high mine operating costs along with low safety factors in open-pit mines, and so is firmly implementing the national mine construction strategy of mechanised substitution, automation, and intelligent unmanned operations in order to achieve safe mine management and reduce mining costs.”