BelAZ-7513R (pilotless dump truck)

2019

Testing of work of the dump truck in regime of the robot in 5G network

On May 16, 2019 it became known that in the territory of the BELAZ plant the test, autonomous network beCloud using technologies of fifth generation working together with network is unrolled LTE Advanced Pro. The used technologies of standards (New Radio and LTE Advanced Pro) allowed technical specialists of VIST Group company to test pilotless control of cars and also work of dump trucks in regime of the robot (Intellectual Pit project). Read more here.

Adaptation of the autonomous movement of the dump truck in winter conditions

On April 4, 2019 the VIST Group company announced end, carried out together with JSC BELAZ, a cycle of works on adaptation of the autonomous movement of the robotic BELAZ-7513R dump truck in winter conditions. Tests "on failure" during which the dump truck continuously worked 24 hours, made 468 cycles and passed 153 km were made. Tests took place within the joint project of JSC BELAZ with JSC VIST Group on the Intellectual Pit project, relevant for gornodobytchik.

According to the statement of VIST Group, the updated robotic BELAZ-7513R dump truck differs from earlier samples due to implementation of intelligent systems of management:

• the electrohydraulic system of steering and brakes with electronic control – provides big flexibility and compactness of construction of steering due to application of control facilities and management (programmable logic controllers) capable to provide optimum characteristics of management and interaction between a steering wheel and executive hydraulic cylinders, a brake pedal and brake mechanisms;
• more unrolled scanning of an environment, including in winter conditions;
• the shuttle mode of the movement allows to save on wear of buses and also to reduce to 12% route time due to lack of turns.

As noted in the VIST Group, robotic dump trucks which are already involved for April, 2019 napromyshlenny objects will receive the updated software.

Further it is going to automate as much as possible and loading works. The loader itself will be able to build a 3D model of the mountain weight intended for loading, to define an operations procedure, to correlate the movement to dump truck provision. Functions of the remote operator will come down to issue of expert instructions at the beginning of work and to additional actions in special situations. It will allow to manage one operator on three-five robotic loaders. Creation of similar complexes will allow to increase efficiency of operation of dump trucks and will provide to mining companies modern intellectual services, claim in VIST Group.

2018: Beginning of deliveries

In November, 2018 it became known of deliveries of the pilotless BelAZ-7513R dump trucks. Eight such cars are sold to Siberian Coal Energy Company, Siberian Business Union and "Region-42"  for development of coal fields.

This career truck is constructed on BelAZ-7513 model and uses the system of satellite navigation which works through the base station, increasing UAV positioning accuracy to 1  cm. The antennas and several sensors installed on a roof, wheels and in other places allow to determine parameters of the movement, speed, a turning angle, etc.

The BelAZ-7513R — the pilotless dump truck

Also the vehicle received computers, about 10 controllers, ultrasonic sensors, radars (scan a movement scene in the conditions of poor visibility at distance to 250  m) and lidars (build the three-dimensional map of a scene of the movement at distance to 100 m).

Besides, the system of recognition capable to detect the personal safety controls issued to personnel is provided. For connection to a management system for the UAV by other machines remote jobs with servers are used.

The BelAZ-7513R works as follows: the manager issues to a system a task for change, selects the required number of robots dump trucks and a production route. Robots leave from the parking on section and begin continuous work – loading, the road, unloading, to repeat. The operator can reassign the machine to other route or send to the parking: the robot will finish the current cycle and will go to a new task.

Control circuit pilotless BelAZ

VIST Robotics trained the machine to go without turns, forward and back, the so-called shuttle course. The driver of the huge dump truck cannot make it. Such method of the movement allows the machine to perform quicker the work, reducing time of idle times of the expensive excavator (it is about 100 times more expensive than the dump truck). Besides, in pits it is dangerous to person to work: gas contamination, dust after explosions, etc.^[1]

Notes