Hexagon claims to equip the world’s first ‘fully’ autonomous road trains
Hexagon AB, a provider in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, has announced an agreement with diversified mining company Mineral Resources (MinRes). With the help of this arrangement, Australia will be able to operate a fleet of 120 fully autonomous road trains, improving regional sustainability, productivity, and safety.
The ‘fully’ autonomous road trains are a full-site, truck-agnostic solution. The addition of unmanned and autonomous systems will form an essential part of the supply chain for the MinRes Onslow Iron project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The centre of the autonomous platooning system is Hexagon’s autonomous solutions stack integrating drive-by-wire technology with an autonomous management system to orchestrate vehicle movement in road train haulage.
“At Hexagon, we see autonomy as a way to vastly improve our world,” says Paolo Guglielmini, president and CEO, Hexagon. “Today’s agreement with MinRes will ensure that off-road transport activities will be safer, more sustainable, and more productive. I’m excited to see how similar solutions can be applied in other off-road markets such as agriculture and heavy industry.”
“We’re excited to announce our agreement with Hexagon to deliver the world’s first fleet of autonomous road trains, which will be an essential part of Onslow Iron’s safe, efficient and dust-free solution for hauling ore,” says Mike Grey, chief executive, MinRes. “Automation will remove the risk of driver fatigue, lower operating costs and reduce fuel use and emissions. There’s enormous potential for these vehicles to transform mining across the world.”
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