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A line of fully loaded trucks crosses a mine without anyone holding the steering wheel. They move autonomously, with precision, as if choreographed. This isn’t a prototype or a laboratory test. It’s already happening at the Yimin coal mine in Northeast China. According to the South China Morning Post, state-owned electricity company Huaneng Group has deployed the largest fleet of driverless electric trucks using Huawei technology at a single mining operation.
This deployment features technology from Huawei, as well as advances from Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group and Beijing University of Science and Technology. In total, 100 heavy-duty vehicles, known as Huaneng Ruichi, transport tons of coal without human intervention, even in adverse weather conditions. Li Shuxue, president of subsidiary Huaneng Mengdong, says that this is the largest coordinated deployment of this kind of vehicle to date.
Connectivity and Cloud Technology: Key Elements in Mining Automation
These advancements rely heavily on a combination of cutting-edge innovations, including 5G-Advanced connectivity, AI, high-precision mapping, cloud computing, and intelligent battery sharing. Huawei Cloud CEO Zhang Ping’an explained that 5G-A, also known as 5.5G, facilitates operations with extremely low latency and very high speeds. These are crucial in an industrial environment.
Notably, Huaneng plans to expand its fleet to 300 autonomous trucks at the Yimin mine over the next three years. The push for automation extends beyond this single mine. The China National Coal Association projected “explosive growth” in the use of unmanned mining trucks by 2026. The number of these trucks is expected to double by that year. Automation is already yielding significant benefits. The Chinese association estimates that operating costs have been reduced by around 8% in mines that have adopted these systems.
The advancements observed in Chinese mining represent part of a broader strategy aimed at modernizing traditional sectors within the country using advanced technology. The innovations being implemented domestically could also present opportunities in other markets.
There’s another deployment worth considering. At the Zaha Naoer mine in Inner Mongolia, 135 autonomous extended-range trucks are now in operation daily. Initiated by China Power Investment, this project involves multiple technology providers and a different operational architecture. According to Chinese tech company Sina Finance, the operation began as a pilot program in 2024. Since then, it’s accumulated more than 478,000 miles traveled, leading to the extraction of over 176 million cubic feet of material.
While the total number of vehicles is higher, this deployment isn’t homogeneous. Unlike the fleet operated by Huawei, the trucks at Zaha Naoer use several systems. Some of them offer extended autonomy and aren’t confined to a single technology platform. This distinction allows Huaneng to promote the Yimin project as the largest single, integrated electric deployment to date.
The infrastructure supporting Zaha Naoer’s fleet includes a combination of 4G and 5G networks, cloud control centers, and inter-vehicle coordination systems. If one of the trucks detects an anomaly, the system transmits data in real-time, allowing technicians to intervene remotely without interrupting operations.
Beyond technological advancements, automation is also transforming the organization of work in mines. For instance, at Zaha Naoer, the use of autonomous trucks has significantly reduced the need for in-cab personnel. As a result, there are 325 fewer drivers and an estimated monthly savings of $555.000. Additionally, operational safety has improved due to less direct exposure to hazardous environments and enhanced control over each stage of the process.
Images | Huaneng Group
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