Fleet Management Systems (FMS) play a crucial role in the monitoring and deployment of mining trucks within open-pit operations to optimize productivity.
A production dispatcher or mine controller and maintenance dispatcher oversees each shift, managing a collection of FMS modules responsible for drills, shovels, trucks, and dozers.
Advantages of FMS
Some advantages of FMS in mining industry are:
FMS Algorithms
One of the significant advantages of FMS lies in its algorithmic capabilities. FMS algorithms calculate the most efficient routes for trucks, reducing the time spent traveling empty. These algorithms factor in the shovel's digging rate, establishing a rhythmic truck loading process.
FMS Integrated with Sensors
FMS integration with sensors on heavy equipment enables condition monitoring and the ability to recognize specific events. Additional sensors can detect issues such as high oil temperatures in loaders, alerting the central FMS to take prompt actions for equipment maintenance.
FMS also contributes to fuel optimization within the Mine Trucks Fleet. It efficiently assigns trucks to the fuel bay, ensuring only those needing refueling are dispatched, resulting in increased production hours.
Conclusion
While some mining customers start with a limited set of FMS capabilities, there is a growing trend of experienced technology consumers with higher expectations. Major vendors are actively working to meet these demands, offering more advanced FMS solutions. These include automated systems with diverse technologies, deeper data analysis, data visualization, report automation, and cloud-based data access.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an Automated Supervision Fleet Management System (FMS)?
Generally, in the mining business, we call this solution; Fleet Management System, and it works like an automated supervisor, but the dispatcher or mine controller will monitor and control the mining environment to deliver safe production targets on shift through the FMS.
2. What are the key benefits of using an automated supervision FMS?
There are many benefits to using the automated supervision FMS, but I will mention only a few:
Improving Safety Environment
FMS may include a driving performance component, including a real-time transmission video feature. Mining truck operators’ habits and behaviors are monitored, helping to prevent damage and improve safety.
Loading Equipment Idle (hanging) Time
The FMS reduces the valuable idle time of shovels or loaders (Loading Equipment) waiting for mining trucks, calculating the right routes that trucks must use. The Mining Operation Team should evaluate the condition of routes.
Data Collection
FMS can collect mining operations data quickly and comprehensively. From the reporting system to uploading statistics, the FMS application can provide the integrity of data a business needs to optimize mining operations.
Several technologies are currently used for data visualization that allows the possibility of a digital transformation in mining operations.
Fleet Control Remotely
The daily mining operations of any size involve many equipment activities, and FMS can be managed effectively. Implementing this type of solution can provide a platform to view every aspect of the operation remotely, even if the machines are scattered across the mine.
3. What types of vehicles can be monitored using an FMS?
Any equipment that is designed for mining operation can be monitored by the FMS. Normally in world-class mining, we can talk about primary equipment, which includes drills, shovels, front loaders, and trucks. But secondary equipment includes dozers, wheel dozers, graders, water trucks, etc.
4. What is the typical ROI for implementing an FMS?
The return on investment involves many variables to calculate it. But to make a very brief analysis; for example, in a mine with 30 mining trucks of 240 tons capacity, which decides to produce more with less due to the optimization of the FMS with the trucks in the mine; The mine can park 2-3 trucks to reduce costs—recovering its investment in 1.5 years.
