Mining automation enables key processes on mine sites such as controlling a machine remotely, automating multiple types of equipment across a fleet or implementing a completely autonomous fleet of haul trucks that can operate around the clock.

To share its latest automation advancements, Komatsu recently hosted customers and distributors for an Automation Global User Forum at the company's Arizona Proving Grounds (AZPG) facility in Tucson, Ariz.

With an emphasis on Komatsu's interoperability strategy, the event highlighted the company's equipment automation and system technology roadmaps as well as customer-presented case studies illustrating the high-value autonomous haulage has brought to their mining operations and their potential paths to an automated mine site.

Participants also got a first look at an autonomous light vehicle (ALV) that Komatsu and Toyota are jointly developing.

Komatsu's partnership with Toyota is reflective of the company's interoperability strategy for its customers' large mining fleets. Receiving directional commands from Komatsu's autonomous haulage system (AHS), one or more Toyota ALVs can integrate with and operate alongside a Komatsu autonomous haulage fleet. Integration of this kind can help improve safety and productivity in an automated mine by reducing interactions with manually operated vehicles, the manufacturer said.

The forum was attended by customers representing more than 20 mine sites around the world, including mines focused on the production of copper, iron ore, metallurgical coal and oil sands.