Dubai (PlantAndEquipment.com) - EACON Mining Technology has deployed seven autonomous NHL TR100A rigid dump trucks to a coal mine in northern China, and the 90-tonne equipment are currently operational without onboard safety drivers.

The trucks, built by China's Inner Mongolia North Hauler (NHL), were modified with EACON's autonomous haulage technology. NHL provided the trucks' drive-by-wire technology, which enabled the autonomous system to regulate vehicle motions during mining operations.

The seven trucks were converted in three shifts, followed by a month of system adaption and safety testing. They subsequently went through around three months of testing under regular mining circumstances, with safety drivers on board.

Following successful testing, the mine phased out safety drivers at the end of August, first running the fleet independently during daylight shifts before expanding operations to 24 hours a day by the end of September.

The trucks convey material from loading locations to the mine's crusher, including uphill laden haulage. The autonomous technology is intended to function in demanding settings such as mixed traffic with human vehicles, winter snow and ice, and muddy haul routes.

The NHL TR100A is now part of EACON's autonomous vehicle offering because of this project. The business claims to have successfully adapted its technology to more than 100 vehicle types from over ten different equipment manufacturers.