Extensive digital technologies that stop short of driverless operation are being introduced by Russian coalmining giant SUEK – including a 360-degree camera system for dumptrucks.
The full-surround-view cameras installed on its 130-tonne dumptrucks are the latest innovation SUEK is introducing to improve safety and efficiency at its Primorye mining operations.
The company's suite of digital systems includes video monitoring by shift supervisers of mining areas, production unit managers and company directors, to control the operation of machinery.
Automated video and weight control systems manage remote loading of railway wagons.
All dumptrucks at one of its sites have been equipped with an automated control system which supplies realtime monitoring of location, the machine's daily work rate, load weights at loading and unloading and fuel consumption.
It also recognises dangerous operation, including speeding, vehicle downtime and evaluates the performance of drivers for entire shifts. Dispatchers, shift and section supervisers and managers receive the data in realtime.
Yet another high-tech system installed on the dumptrucks remotely monitors the  condition of the haul roads and access roads in the company's open-pit mines.
The trucks' onboard equipment eliminates the need for personnel to be physically present in the mines and SUEK says it increases the service life of its machinery, thanks to the prompt elimination of bumps and the restoration of the road surfaces. It also reduces the risk of emergencies caused by poor road conditions and increases the service life of dumptruck tyres.
SUEK's Andrey Kukarenko says that together the digital technologies provide big benefits, including a 5-10% fuel cost saving, a 5-15% improvement in carrying out complex technical tasks, up to an 8% reduction in equipment operating costs and a dramatic decrease (up to 80%) in non-processing-related downtime.