Self-driving vehicles have been on the radar for quite some time. Autonomous trucks are in better demand because of all the positive perks they can bring to the table. Self-driving trucks can work seven days a week for 24 hours, which means they can work all year, save a lot of money, and save 500 work hours per day.

The first use of autonomous trucks was by Rio Tinto. The self-driving trucks was used in the deep red landscapes of Australia, known as Pilabara. Pilbara is famous for its iron ores, and driving trucks was used to mine out a remote copper mine. Fast forward to the present day, and Pilbara can be called the mine of the future, as they are now exclusively using 80 autonomous trucks for digging, roaming, excavating, and transporting minerals from the site to outside destinations.

The self-driving trucks can control their speed and routing via wireless signals from a control center, and they also have GPS for accurate positioning. It also gives rise to the need to train employees who were previously directly engaged in the driving of trucks to handle the operations from a control center that is situated afar from the mining spots. The ability of management to restrict employees from working directly in the mines was only possible due to the relentless and appropriate application of new-age technology.

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Implementing autonomous trucks or self-driving trucks can be a positive step in regions where it is not safe for the truck driver to drive through uneven terrain. In Chile, where hazards stem from geology, geography, and poor safety standards adopted by mining structures, self-driving trucks will aid in the smooth flow of mining processes.

It is easier to adapt to automotive technologies in mining industries as it is not as intrusive as the urban environment with constant vehicle movement. The mining industry has a controlled environment, using self-driving trucks if fairly easy and adaptable in such environments.

By adopting self-driving trucks in the mining business, they can now be assured of lowering the chances of hazards. With little to no human involvement and interference, the self-driving trucks are functional without any complaints of being tired or fatigue-ridden. The chances of causing delays due to manual or human errors have been reduced.

 The productivity of the mining industry can also be increased, as there won’t be any breaks needed for the self-driving truck. Also, if the drivers do not check up on the maintenance of the vehicle due to their rash use, it can amplify the amount spent on operational costs as well; through the use of self-driving trucks, such expenses can be dialed down to a great extent. The efficiency that can be brought to the functioning of the company through the adoption of self-driving trucks is tremendous. Such technological advancements have improved the working conditions in the mining industry.  When processes are efficient, it automatically leads to better streamlining of activities and a reduction in the likelihood of stumbling blocks. In the future of mining operations, there will be a sudden shift in the employee requirement, which will increase the chances of hiring technically competent workers. Moving human involvement in mining operations more into the control room can reduce the different disasters that usually take place. The assurance of safety and its improvement of standards in the working environment can bring in more productivity from the employees’ end. Such adoptions can also help lead to better prospects for the growth and development of the mining industry.

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As of now, we are still finding different ways to improve the functionalities of self-driving trucks, and indeed, in the long run, they will be an indispensable asset of the mining industry.