Transitioning to Electromobility and Autonomy in Construction Machinery Using Digital Twins

This feasibility study leverages the existing models and simulation environment developed during the MD3S study, taking a step further towards quantifying the infrastructure benefits and risk of the transition to autonomy and electromobility in mining. The project lays the groundwork for the establishment of a large-scale innovation project involving a wider project community (e.g. machine manufacturers, customers, institutions, workers) with the long-term goal of reaching the targets of zero emissions and zero accidents in mining.

Aim of the project

The project will enable the creation of a digital twin of the typical operation of a mining and quarrying plant, including time, fuel consumption, emissions, productivity, which is applied to a network of quarrying and mining plants.

Implementation of the project

The project objectives are to:

1) Model the air pollution in a generic quarry and mine by mapping traditional work cycles based on machine utilization. This will be obtained by collecting data from actual computers and recreating a virtual quarry site in a simulation environment.

2) Model the air pollution for the same generic quarry and mine in case of a full electrical scenario.

3) Model the air pollution from the support infrastructure of a fully electric quarry and mine.

4) On the basis of the previous objectives, create a digital twin of a mine to practically test the performance and emissions of alternative configurations of electrical machinery and infrastructure.

5) Identify the main KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for sustainability assessment on electric and autonomous construction sites.

6) Develop a model to trade-off the economic and environmental performance among electric sites, fully autonomous electric sites and hybrid electric sites (combining autonomous machines with traditional human-powered machines).

7) Develop a system model based on the results of the previous points to simulate the economic and environmental performance of a network of quarries and mines.

8) Demonstrate a first version of the digital twin as a support tool for the planning and design of future quarries and mines.

9) Plan for a pilot project involving the corporate partner and a customer site to develop a large-scale demonstrator of the digital twin environment.