Autonomous Haul Trucks
with Private 5G
Self-driving haul trucks with real-time telemetry, collision avoidance, and fleet coordination for 24/7 unmanned operations.
Why Now
Safety Imperative
Haul truck collisions cause 30% of mining fatalities globally
Labor Shortage
Remote mines cannot recruit operators; housing costs unsustainable
Productivity Pressure
Commodity prices demand 24/7 operations; human shifts limit output
Proven Technology
Rio Tinto, BHP demonstrating 40%+ productivity gains with autonomy
Cost Structure
$180K per operator annually makes automation ROI immediate
Regulatory Momentum
Mining safety authorities encouraging autonomous adoption
The Operational Challenge
Manned haul truck operations are dangerous, inefficient, and limited by human factors.
Safety Incidents
Vehicle collisions cause 30% of mining fatalities with average cost of $6M per incident
Limited Operating Hours
Driver shifts, breaks, fatigue limit trucks to 60% utilization vs 95%+ for autonomous
Labor Shortages
Remote mine locations struggle to recruit and retain qualified haul truck operators
Inconsistent Performance
Driver skill variance and fatigue lead to 25% productivity variation across shifts
High Labor Costs
$180K annual cost per operator including wages, benefits, training, housing
Environmental Exposure
Operators exposed to dust, vibration, heat stress leading to health issues
The Private 5G Enabled Solution
Full Autonomy
Self-driving trucks navigate optimal routes with zero human intervention
Real-Time Telemetry
Continuous streaming of position, speed, load, fuel, system health data
Collision Avoidance
LiDAR, radar, cameras integrated with 5G for instant hazard detection
Fleet Coordination
Central AI optimizes routes, passing zones, loading sequences for entire fleet
24/7 Operations
Continuous autonomous operation eliminates shift changes and downtime
Predictive Maintenance
Vehicle health monitoring predicts failures before they cause breakdowns
Technical Architecture
Integrated autonomy system with 5G connectivity for real-time fleet management.
Performance Specifications
Sensor Fusion
Combines LiDAR, radar, cameras, GPS, IMU data for precise navigation and obstacle detection
V2X Communications
Vehicle-to-everything messaging enables trucks to coordinate and avoid conflicts
Edge AI
Onboard AI makes split-second driving decisions, 5G provides fleet-level coordination
HD Mapping
Centimeter-accurate 3D maps updated in real-time as mine topology changes
Network Engineering Considerations
Wide-Area Coverage
50+ km² mine site coverage with macro cells and outdoor small cells
Deterministic Fleet Control
<20ms latency for collision avoidance and route coordination
Sensor Fusion Integration
LiDAR, radar, cameras, GPS data combined for precise navigation
V2X Communications
Vehicle-to-vehicle messaging for real-time conflict avoidance
Edge AI Processing
Onboard AI for split-second decisions, 5G for fleet orchestration
HD Mapping Updates
Real-time 3D map updates as mine topology changes
Measurable Business Impact
Operational Impact
- 45% increase in productivity
- 95%+ fleet utilization vs 60% manned
- 30% reduction in fuel consumption
- Zero operator safety incidents
Financial Impact
- $68M annual productivity gain
- 85% reduction in labor costs
- $12M lower insurance premiums
- Eliminated collision costs
Strategic Impact
- Industry-leading automation
- Eliminate labor recruitment challenges
- Foundation for fully autonomous mine
- Competitive cost per ton advantage
Deployment Model
Phased transition from manned to fully autonomous haul fleet.
Infrastructure
Deploy 5G network across mine site, HD mapping, establish autonomous corridors
Pilot Vehicles
Convert 3-5 trucks to autonomous, validate safety systems, refine algorithms
Mixed Fleet
Operate autonomous and manned trucks together, expand autonomous zones
Full Autonomy
Convert entire fleet, eliminate manned operations, achieve 24/7 autonomous mining
Sample ROI Snapshot
Financial analysis for mine with 35 haul trucks
Current State
With Private 5G
3-Year Financial Projection
| Metric | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment | ($35,000,000) | — | — |
| Annual Benefit | $68,000,000 | $75,000,000 | $82,000,000 |
| Net Benefit | $33,000,000 | $75,000,000 | $82,000,000 |
| Cumulative | $33,000,000 | $108,000,000 | $190,000,000 |