Development of Automatic Truck Control (ATC) (061ebab2-0604-48ff-83dc-db19bc91f4d9)

Unit Rig & Equipment Co., manufacturer of Lectra Haul trucks, is continually studying methods of reducing the operating costs of large haulage trucks. Reduction of haulage system operating costs is an important goal that equipment operators and equipment manufacturers constantly try to improve on. One of the most variable and important factors affecting operating costs is actual truck operating practices. An examination was centered on methods to optimize truck utilization. It was found that a very effective method of accomplishing this goal would be an automatic truck control (ATC) system to automatically control a fleet of haulage trucks in a predetermined pattern. Economic studies were conducted which showed a very favorable reduction in mine operating costs by use of an ATC system. In 1970, Unit Rig & Equipment Co., in conjunction with SAAB-SCANIA began preliminary development of adapting, for truck use, a proven automated control system, previously used for train systems, small trucks, and military target vehicles. In 1974, the first prototype system was installed on a Lectra Haul M-100 and tested extensively at Unit Rig's test track in Tulsa, OK. This truck and system were then displayed publicly at the 1974 convention in Las Vegas. In 1976, the system was redesigned for production to maximize reliability, ease maintenance, and to accommodate future control and-status reporting developments proposed for haulage trucks. The new design equipment was manufactured, and a full system test will be conducted in an actual open-pit mine for an extended period to evaluate reliability, compile economic data, and obtain application information to evaluate complete mine haulage system conversions to ATC. System Description The ATC system is designed to provide automatic control of all the vehicle functions normally accomplished by the vehicle operator. The basic system consists of the on-board control equipment and the wayside control equipment. The on-board equipment receives commands from the wayside equipment and controls all the truck functions. In addition, on-board sensors monitor all critical truck functions and provide instructions to the truck and system to assure safe operation. The wayside equipment consists of a buried guidewire, block control units and a central controller which provides predetermined signals to the on-board equipment for speed control, steering, and for auxiliary functions (dumping, horn, etc.) through the guidewire located in the truck's path. The wayside equipment also controls vehicle separation, system status, and provides truck location to a central display panel. The central control panel can vary the speed level signals over any segment and can also command an emergency stop to halt all the units. [Fig. 1] illustrates a typical ATC installation. If ATC is used in operations which require flexibility and mobility at the end of the ATC guidance network, the trucks can then be operated by either radio remote control or manually to complete their assigned functions.