Autonomous Solutions
Autona / earth
Autonomous haulage for mines and quarries
Autona / earth is reshaping mining by providing a complete transport solution tailored to each site’s operational needs. Our transport-as-a-service model, where you pay per goods transported, simplifies the transition to autonomy, enabling your business to participate in the industry's transformation without managing all the complexities. You can focus on your core operation, and we move the material safely and predictably.
The autonomous haulage system includes operation of autonomous vehicles driven by the Volvo Virtual Driver, fleet management and uptime as well as tailoring site infrastructure.
Safe
At Volvo, safety is in our DNA. Autona / earth is designed to improve safety by reducing human exposure to high-risk environments. Autonomy delivers clear safety benefits to complex and potentially hazardous mining operations.
Efficient
Autonomous trucks can run around the clock, increasing utilization and stabilizing cycle times. With Autona / earth you get predictable load to unload flow: the virtual driver keeps speeds and spacing consistent, site control coordinates arrivals and departures, and real time data exposes bottlenecks.
Agile
Autona / earth is built for agile site operations, letting us adjust load and dump points, and tune speeds and spacing. We can add or reroute trucks as the pit evolves. Continuous operation is not tied to driver shifts, so capacity can be added when needed.
A flexible service tailored to your business needs
Autona / earth is a complete solution purpose-built for rough operational environments. Through real-world commercial application, we have refined and optimized the Volvo Virtual Driver for demanding mining and quarrying applications. By implementing autonomy with our transport-as-a-service (TaaS) solution, you get the benefits of autonomy without taking the higher risk of implementing it yourself.
To successfully implement an autonomous solution on your site, collaboration is key. We design a unique setup for every customer, optimized for each site’s specific needs; we define the operational design domain, map routes, prepare the needed documentation and train your teams. In doing so, we ensure that autonomy integrates into your operation to deliver real value to your business.
A complete autonomous mining solution
Based on the Volvo FH premium truck range, our autonomous vehicles are deeply integrated with our virtual driver and engineered for performance.
Our trucks are deeply integrated with our in-house developed Virtual Driver for confined areas.
The fleet management systems track fleet performance, receiving real-time updates on vehicles, loads, and transport times. Our fleet management can be integrated into your current fleet management or mine management systems.
We tailor your infrastructure to optimize performance of the autonomous haulage solution, working with you to enable safe and efficient autonomous operations.
We offer comprehensive operation and maintenance services, which encompasses both day-to-day operations and preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities needed to keep equipment in optimal condition.
Uptime is the combination of the proactive and reactive actions our team takes to maximize availability, reliability, and productivity of the autonomous solution, with the aim to keep your mission running smoothly. We commit to uptime with monitored operations, on-site maintenance and repair, and a Volvo network for parts, diagnostics and software updates.
An autonomous ecosystem engineered for performance
Deep integration between the autonomy enabled truck, the Volvo Virtual Driver, and our Site Control system creates an integrated ecosystem for hauling material. The Virtual Driver ensures that the truck travels efficiently and safely through the demanding environment. The Site Control system provides real time fleet insights, status updates, and centralized oversight from the operations room, supporting predictable and efficient operations.
- Volvo FH Autonomous
- Volvo Virtual Driver
- Site Control
Rugged and sophisticated
The Volvo FH Autonomous is engineered to navigate rugged terrain, steep inclines, and narrow roads in mines and quarries with high precision. With independently verified fuel efficiency, it brings the strengths of the iconic Volvo FH together with the power of autonomy.
Expertly navigating mines and quarries
Developed in-house for confined and controlled environments, the Volvo Virtual Driver automates hauling so trucks can operate without human intervention. Using LiDAR, radar, cameras, and other real-time data, it navigates complex terrain with accuracy and consistency. Safety is central to its development: thousands of simulations, including edge cases, are run and then validated through real-world testing to ensure safe, reliable performance in live operations.
Full Overview
Site Control ties the operation together. It provides enhanced fleet management with real-time vehicle insights, status updates, and centralized control from the operations room. Integrated with the truck and the Volvo Virtual Driver, it helps coordinate arrivals and departures and maintain predictable, high-integrity operations. Support for predictive and preventive maintenance can be included as part of the service where applicable.
