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Suncor Energy will try Komatsu’s Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) in the
mining industry in northern Canada
. Each autonomous dump truck is equipped with
vehicle controllers, a high-precision global positioning system (GPS), an
obstacle detection system, and a wireless network system. These features allow the
dump truck to safely operate though a complex load, haul, and dump cycle and to
integrate with the dozers, loaders, and shovels that are also part of the
autonomous system. Komatsu claims that AHS reduces the number of drivers
working in hostile and remote conditions, increases safety on mine sites,
reduces operating costs, increases productivity and efficiency, and reduces
fuel consumption and emissions.
Jaguar Land Rover has revealed some of the
prototype technologies that its U.K.-based research team is developing to deliver
autonomous driving in the future. A remote-controlled Range Rover Sport
research vehicle  demonstrates how a driver could drive the vehicle from outside
the car via their smartphone. The smartphone app includes control of steering,
the accelerator, brakes, and changing from high to low range. This would allow
the driver to walk alongside the car, at a maximum speed of 4 mi/h (6.4 km/h),
to maneuver the car out of challenging situations safely or even to negotiate difficult
off-road terrain. The driver could use the smartphone to reverse the car out of
a parking space if someone has parked too close for them to open the door. The
remote control function will only operate if the user is within 10 m of the car
and if the smart key can be detected. The system will stop the vehicle if the
driver moves out of range or gets too close.
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