Expert Insights: The Benefits of AI and Automation - Chile Mining 2022

Expert Insights:

The Benefits of AI and Automation

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of technology at mine sites, with AI and autonomy at the forefront of modernizing mining processes

“AI is being used to model productive processes. We are currently working on a mining project where the client started training its operators early, without the installations, because it has a mathematical model of the productive process. This way operators can begin to familiarize and train in the process before it is completely built, by using simulations, so when the plant is finished the operator is already familiar with the process. This helps avoid bottlenecks and stoppage times, as well as ensuring a smooth run up of the operation. With these tools applied to data acquisition and management you can also run a simulation of a future productive process in a few days and take lessons that you would have only seen after a year of real-time operations.”

Jorge Abraham, Country Division Manager – Process Industries, and Mining Lead, ABB Chile

“The good thing about AI technologies is that the value of equipment continues to rise due to the software learning along the way, getting better over time. As your systems are continuously learning they become more intelligent, which leads to better performance in measuring particle sizes and ore percentages. Our solutions use deep learning to improve safety, energy efficiency and productivity of the mining process. All of our products interfaces with our centralized data analysis platform, MetricsManager Pro, where users can receive and access automated notifications, in-depth performance reports, equipment activity logs, and particle size data from anywhere.”

Shahram Tafazoli, Chief of AI, Weir Motion Metrics

“Analytics have become extremely important to optimize production processes and improve overall equipment effectiveness. The main challenge with analytics is the data available. The collection of data in different conditions and applications enables you to train AI algorithms to skillfully evaluate processes. AI can give people a look into the future by enabling the monitoring of production processes and assets across an operation and by coupling operational intelligence with this AI.”

Mauricio Gregorio, Digitalization Manager – Chile and Peru, Siemens

“Remote control technology was developed due to new mining methods. For example, sublevel stoping where, with a huge ore body, you blast it but you can only go in so far safely as you have no protection over the operator. This is where the operator will use remote line of site technology to remove the material. When you are taking it to the next level of semi-autonomy and full autonomy you don’t need the operator in the mine as he can operate equipment from surface and from a distance. Autonomous operations allow for much less down time as usually, after a blast you will not be able to send anyone into the mine for two hours, but now the autonomous equipment can be operating.”

Brian Larocque, General Manager – Chile, HARD-LINE

Image courtesy of Sigdo Koppers

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