China Initiates Its First Unmanned Lorry Project in Extremely Cold Region

Shenbao Energy of China Energy Investment Corporation recently announced that a 5G-based unmanned lorry security demonstration project for mines in extremely cold regions with complicated weather conditions is set to begin.

Upon completion, the project's mode will be promoted in other mine fields.

The vehicles will be jointly developed by Shenbao Energy and Aerospace Heavy Industry Co., Ltd and China Mobile Limited's subsidiary in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which will be responsible for 5G network construction on the mine field.

In the first stage, five 220-ton heavy duty dump trucks will be renovated to carry on collaborative work with supporting vehicles including an electric shovel, remotely-controlled bulldozer and sprinkler and road scraper, which is the whole set of unmanned transport operations at a strip mine.

Later, a smart, safe and highly-efficient exploration mode will be developed and finally the project is expected to evolve into a world leading smart strip mine integrating new generation information communication and control technologies. It will also be an innovative demonstration project with proprietary core technology.

The project will contribute to the development of China's first unmanned testing standard system in extremely cold regions and offer instructions for unmanned testing of mining devices in such areas.

An animation of how the unmanned truck will work by itself at a strip mine in extremely cold regions [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Hao Wen)