Japan-based Komatsu has been in operation for 95 years by supplying the world with a variety of construction vehicles. Now, it has officially revealed its Autonomous Haulage Vehicle at this year’s MINExpo in Las Vegas.
Autonomous technology is being used in every industry. Public transport, daily commuters and even furniture have all been adapted to this technology. It should therefore, be no surprise that construction vehicles also receive an autonomous treatment.
The benefits of this new dumpster being autonomous means that it doesn’t need a cabin. Through this, it is able to distribute an equal load to all four driving wheels, making it more agile and giving it a sharper turning circle (15,9 m radius to be exact). It also benefits from more traction.
Through this newly found maneuverability, the dumpster is said to improve efficiency in mining and construction sites. Komatsu has been developing autonomous haulage systems since 2008 but this particular model is a huge step forward.
The autonomous dumpster will make use of 2 014 kW. This only gives it a top speed of 64 km/h but it’s able to carry a payload of 230 000 kg. Extra grip is provided by the 59/80 R63 tyres.
