Danfoss Power Solutions has partnered with Swift Navigation, Bonsai Robotics and HARD-LINE to expand the offerings in its autonomous machine development platform.

Danfoss will integrate the companies’ solutions into its PLUS+1 Autonomy software, enabling users to enhance their autonomous machines with Swift Navigation’s high-precision positioning service, Bonsai Robotics’ camera-based vision systems and HARD-LINE’s tele-remote operations solution, the company said.

Peter Bleday, Head of Autonomy, Danfoss Power Solutions, said: “Autonomous off-highway machines are becoming more sophisticated. As we advance towards Level 4 and even Level 5 autonomy, high-precision navigation and remote control beyond line of sight will become requirements. Swift Navigation, Bonsai Robotics and HARD-LINE are very different companies that each have a reputation for technology leadership and flexibility. These are natural system partnerships for us and strategic business fits. We look forward to integrating their solutions into our PLUS+1 Autonomy platform and helping our customers stay ahead of the curve in their autonomous vehicle development.”

PLUS+1 Autonomy is a software platform designed to substantially reduce development time and facilitate rapid vehicle prototyping, helping OEMs get autonomous and semi-autonomous off-highway machines to market faster. In addition to its PLUS+1 Autonomy platform, Danfoss offers engineering services and ruggedised hardware. Danfoss Autonomy teams work with customers from concept to production, supporting full machine development.

Swift Navigation’s Skylark precise positioning service offers decimeter-level accuracy from the cloud to PLUS+1 Autonomy, eliminating the need for additional ground infrastructure, it says. It is well suited for industries such as construction, agriculture and other applications that demand high-precision GNSS capabilities. Skylark covers a wide range of major markets, including the USA, Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia.

Brad Sherrard, Executive Vice President, Industrial, Swift Navigation, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Danfoss, a renowned leader in industrial machine control. Accurate machine control and autonomy rely heavily on precise positioning. Skylark’s exceptional reliability and extensive coverage make it the ideal solution for these applications.”

Bonsai Robotics is a fast-growing startup that specialises in camera-based vision systems for adverse conditions such as heavy dust, debris, vibration and lack of GPS. The system uses cameras instead of traditional positioning systems, enabling greater accuracy at very low cost when navigating the toughest conditions.

Tyler Niday, founder and CEO, Bonsai Robotics, said: “Bonsai’s partnership with Danfoss has allowed us to rapidly integrate with several vehicle form factors in order to add vision-based autonomy and Visionsteer driver augmentation to equipment operating in some of the most challenging conditions. The beauty of PLUS+1 drive-by-wire systems is that an autonomous perception system can drive the PLUS+1-equipped vehicles through CAN bus messages in the same way that a human would use manual controls.”

HARD-LINE offers teleoperation services that enable monitoring and control of machines over the internet. The service complements Danfoss’ radio-based remote-control solutions, which allow operators to remotely control machines within line of sight. Teleoperations are ideal for operators supervising multiple autonomous machines. If a machine stops due to an unknown obstacle, the operator can log in to the HARD-LINE system, navigate around the obstacle then resume autonomous operation without needing to be close to the machine.

Chad Rhude, Vice President of US operations, HARD-LINE, said: “HARD-LINE is excited to partner with Danfoss to provide a teleoperation solution to work in conjunction with their PLUS+1 Autonomy software. We feel that HARD-LINE’s teleoperation solution is ideal for giving autonomy providers the flexibility to remotely intervene when required during the autonomy process. We look forward to adapting our API to integrate into the PLUS+1 Autonomy platform and working with a great company like Danfoss to bring autonomy and teleoperation to a wider industrial

In November 2020, autonomous open pit haulage technology company EACON Mining began an autonomous driving project in the South Pit of energy company TBEA, a coal mine operated by its Tianchi Energy subsidiary in the northwest of China. The partners embarked on a journey of safe operations that has now surpassed 30 months. Building on a fleet of almost 40 existing trucks, EACON has now announced the upcoming deployment of 100 new hybrid trucks at the mine, marking a significant milestone and expansion.

EACON says it collaborated closely with the OEM to design and build these hybrid vehicles. EACON designed the EEA (Electrical and Electronic Architecture), the specifications for the range-extender, battery and motor systems, and the control strategies of trucks. Compared to conventional fuel vehicles with the same payload capacity, the hybrid vehicles can achieve fuel savings of over 20%.

Since its inception, the South Pit autonomy project has achieved a lot of progress. As of May 2023, the South Pit alone has seen a cumulative autonomous distance travelled of 1.09 million kilometres, EACON Mining says making it the longest accumulated mileage project in China. “We have seamlessly transitioned from single-fleet operations, to six autonomous mining truck fleets since June 2022. The increase in fleet size is still ongoing, and the increase enables stable increases in production capacity.”

The company also mentions diverse operational scenarios. “We have successfully adapted to various mining environments. Our solutions have proven their adaptability and reliability in challenging conditions, enduring extreme heatwaves, freezing winters, and harsh wind and sand environments. Through these rigorous on-site operations in South Pit, our autonomous mining trucks have demonstrated their capability to operate effectively in diverse and demanding scenarios.”

As the client TBEA increases its rated production capacity from 35 Mt/y to 40 Mt/y, EACON is also enhancing its production capacity through vehicle upsizing to meet their growing demands. The existing fleet is also currently undergoing an upgrade from conventional fuel vehicles with a capacity of 70 tons to extended-range hybrid haul trucks with a capacity of 100 tons.

“As we look to the future, EACON remains committed to innovation and efficiency in autonomous mining operations. By the end of July, we will introduce an additional 100 autonomous mining vehicles at the South Pit, marking a groundbreaking milestone of over 100 autonomous trucks deployed in a single mine.”

Epiroc has introduced the MTVR, a mobile hydraulic powerpack for electric blasthole drills.
Designed to enhance the utilisation and productivity of Epiroc electric drills, it says this self-contained, wagon-mounted powerpack enables off-grid operation for high-voltage electric drills without requiring extensive electrical infrastructure.

Yara Hussein, Global Product Manager Midrange Blasthole at Epiroc, explains the MTVR’s significance: “The MTVR provides our customers with a solution for tramming, eliminating concerns of cable management and additional electrical infrastructure throughout the mine site. With its trailer-mounted, diesel-powered hydraulic system directly connecting to the drill’s mainframe, the MTVR enables continuous tramming even during power outages or for relocating the drill to a safe area before a blast.”

The MTVR’s key feature is its radio remote control (RRC), allowing operators to propel the unit from bench to bench, pit to pit, or workshop without compromising safety. In addition, the optional rescue function powers auxiliary drill functions, such as levelling jacks, tower positioning, and cable reel, streamlining drill preparation for transportation, and saving valuable time and labour.

Epiroc’s tailored connection kits ensure compatibility with Epiroc’s electric blasthole range, as the MTVR seamlessly integrates with various hydraulic systems. Moreover, optional cold weather packages extend the value of the MTVR, enabling efficient operations in any climate. By reducing the need for HV cable management, the MTVR significantly increases uptime and productivity, offering reliability and agility in mining operations. With a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), mining companies can minimise cable management teams and site electrical infrastructure expenses.

Volvo has announced that electric trucks made with fossil-free steel are now being delivered to its customers, making it the first truck manufacturer in the world to do so

The fossil-free steel is made by using a completely new technology with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. (Image source: Volvo)

In September this year, Volvo Trucks started series production of heavy-duty electric, 44 tonne trucks, as the first global truck manufacturer to achieve this. Some of the electric trucks will also be the first trucks in the world that are built with fossil-free steel.

Jessica Sandström, senior vice president of product management at Volvo Trucks, commented, “Our journey to net zero emissions includes both making our vehicles fossil free in operation and over time fully replacing the material in our trucks with fossil-free and recycled alternatives.”

The fossil-free steel is produced by the Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB and is made by using a completely new technology with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The result is a significantly lower climate impact and an important step towards a net-zero emissions value chain. Among the customers that will have fossil-free steel in some of their electric trucks are Amazon and DFDS and, through the transport company Simon Loos, Unilever.

“At Amazon, we are on the way to make all of our operations net-zero carbon by 2040. We need partners like Volvo to make this transition happen,” said Andreas Marschner, vice president transportation services Europe at Amazon.

Niklas Andersson, EVP of DFDS logistics division, commented, “DFDS is committed to our green transition and to deliver greener transport and logistics solutions. Any step in the green transition of logistics brings us closer to a carbon free society and we are therefore happy to learn that some of our new electric trucks soon to be delivered are also produced with fossil free steel.”

The first steel produced with hydrogen is being used in the electric truck’s frame rails, the backbone of the truck upon which all other main components are mounted. As the availability of fossil-free steel increases, it will also be introduced in other parts of the truck.

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With the growing popularity and versatility of fibres in concrete, CHRYSO works with local fibre specialist Oxyfibre to offer customers a professional technical design service. This relates to custom applications of CHRYSO® Macro polypropylene fibres, which are considered as structural elements in construction. Oxyfibre’s Izak Louw says this design offering ensures that contractors get the most from this innovative technology.

MEDIA RELEASE – 08/11/2022

DESIGN SERVICE OPENS MORE DOORS TO USING FIBRE IN CONCRETE

The use of fibres in concrete goes back to Roman times, but modern fibre technology now offers contractors and end-users almost limitless possibilities, which can be brought to life by the specialised design service from CHRYSO Southern Africa and Oxyfibre.

Izak Louw, operations manager at Oxyfibre, explains that CHRYSO® Macro polypropylene fibres compete with the conventional steel mesh as a reinforcement for concrete. As such, these macrofibres are considered as structural elements, and must pass stringent tests to prove the strength and integrity of their physical properties.

“This creates the basis for us to offer a specialised engineering design service for the application of our macrofibres, not only for ground supported slabs but also for precast concrete,” says Louw. “We use the customer’s data on loadings, ground conditions and the kind of activities that will be carried out on the concrete surface – such as rolling loads and racking loads.”

CHRYSO Southern Africa has been the official distributor for Oxyfibre since 2016, with the two firms having built a strong working relationship for many years before that. Oxyfibre makes available both microfibres and macrofibres supplied by Adfil Construction Fibres, who Oxyfibre represents in sub-Saharan Africa. ADFIL Construction Fibres bases its manufacturing facilities – as well as its research and development laboratory – in Belgium.

“Most of our customised fibre designs relate to civil engineering applications, such as roads and industrial slabs,” he says. “However, we also provide the design service in smaller contracts for driveways, residential homes and requirements on farms.”

Working closely with CHRYSO, the Oxyfibre engineering team considers the customer’s needs and provides feedback on aspects like fibre dosage, the size of saw-cuts on a slab and the optimal thickness of the concrete. A good example of the fibre design offering was for a building project where the contractor was looking for an innovative solution.

“The building had a large number of service conduits to be installed between the hollow core planks and the structural topping,” he says. “It was clear that there would not be enough space to use conventional steel mesh reinforcement.”

The contractor asked CHRYSO and Oxyfibre to find a solution that would allow space to install the service conduits and prevent cracking of the topping’s surface. The use of macrofibres did the trick, also saving on the time and cost of placing steel mesh reinforcement. Moreover, the fibres could be added to the concrete mix at the readymix plant, so there was no need for the storage or mixing in of fibres on site.

“With our tailored design service, we work closely with the customer to supply the required calculations and technical specifications,” he says. “We also produce a detailed commercial proposal that sets out the benefits of CHRYSO® Macro fibres; our service comes with professional indemnity.”

CAPTIONS

FIBRE PIC 01 : With CHRYSO’s tailored design service, the company works closely with the customer to supply the required fibre calculations and technical specifications.

FIBRE PIC 02 : Fibres used in the concrete mix design for an ore stockyard hard stand at a mine in Rustenburg.

FIBRE PIC 03 : CHRYSO® Macro polypropylene fibres serve as an alternative to steel mesh reinforcement in concrete.

FIBRE PIC 04 : CHRYSO macro fibres are suitable to both ground supported slabs and precast applications.

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