Remote autonomous control technology, advanced sensors, artificial intelligence...
Vale is the continent's biggest mining company, producing 80% of Brazil's iron ore. In May 2021, Vale ranked no. 113 on the Forbes global 2000 list of 2021, and is known as the "crown jewel" of Brazil and the "engine of The Amazon region".
Because mine operation belongs to the industry with high incidence of accidents, so mine personnel management and safety accident prevention become very important, how to ensure the safety of workers to the greatest extent, to avoid unnecessary losses is the biggest problem faced by mine management personnel.
With remote control, advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, big data, 5 g cutting-edge technology such as wireless communication is used in the daily work, vale to technology to strengthen the safety in production, build security technology research and development platform, pushing forward the construction of the mine automation and intelligent improving mine safety management level.
Automated equipment reduces risk and improves efficiency
In 2018, Vale commissioned its first automation equipment at the Brookutu mine, including self-driving trucks and automated RIGS. Since then, the company's calagas mining area in The state of Para and The State of Minas Gerais Blukuto mining area has also used automation equipment. Earlier this year, the Guaiba Marine Terminal in Mangalatiba, Rio de Janeiro state, started using automated yard equipment. The company says automation reduces the risk to employees in the operating area by eliminating the need for technical staff to operate equipment in the cockpit, while increasing operational stability and improving productivity.
In the case of yard equipment operations at the Marine terminal, operators used to have to climb multiple steps to access 40-meter repursers and stokers that move nearly 8,000 tons of iron ore an hour, says Mr. Tennathan of the company's public-affairs division. Under the high intensity of working pressure, once the operator appears distracted and other inattention situation, it is easy to happen accident, serious threat to life safety. Since the implementation of automated management, operators can operate equipment remotely from a control center.
Vale has deployed automation technology on 24 trucks, 18 RIGS and 30 yards. As automation moves forward, about 300 employees working in mines and yards in minas Gerais, Para, Rio de Janeiro and Maranhao states have stopped on-site work in risk areas and switched to safer remote control.
After automatic operation, the production efficiency of the storage yard in Caragas mining area has been improved obviously. The deviation of ore stacking operation in the two yards of the plant is reduced by 90%. "The smaller the deviation, the lower the risk of ore slipping in the stack, the faster and safer the train load. There are risks at the operation site, and the yard equipment is made more reliable by technology such as sensors. Automated operations significantly reduce employee risks. We want to put safety first while further improving productivity." Tensen stressed.
Robots keep employees away from dangerous working conditions
In recent years, Vale has also invested heavily in robots that can help employees stay out of dangerous environments. In 2010, the company established a technical research institute specializing in the development of operational solutions for robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence. In 2015, the Cave Robot project was launched. The cave robot, a remote-controlled robot with a camera and lighting system that can navigate rough terrain, was designed to aid exploration by mapping caves near the operation area. In 2017, researchers began testing cave robots for other scenarios, such as testing confined environments that are difficult to access. In addition to factory equipment such as ball mills and crusher plates, it also includes pipes, channels and sewers. Cave robots have been used in more than 15 different work scenarios in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo and Para. The robot has an interchangeable motion system that can move with wheels, tires, pedals or supports depending on the terrain, and an sensing system that supports high-resolution detection, 3D map generation and other modular functions.
This year, the institute will build three similar robots that will be used to inspect mills, pipes and other confined environments at copper mines in Para state and at iron mines in Vitoria and Itabira in The state of Espirito Santo and minas Gerais.
The implementation of the Security Transformation Plan sets out three objectives
In 2021, Vale began implementing its Safety Transformation Plan with three goals: ensuring safe processes, accelerating operational controls, and keeping employees away from hazardous operations through remote control, automation, and robotics.
Projects under the Safe Transformation Program include the deployment of autonomous vehicles, the application of operator fatigue detection systems, and the use of augmented reality for detection and maintenance operations. The company plans to invest $45 million to automate more than 100 machines.
"Under the impact of COVID-19, the mining industry must accelerate the pace of technological innovation. "New transformational technologies enable mining companies to increase productivity in a safe, efficient, green and sustainable way, as well as provide flexibility and rapid response to emergencies such as COVID-19." "Tensen said.
