Komatsu to deploy Pronto’s autonomous haulage technologies to quarry operations

[Redator]

Komatsu has partnered with Pronto, a Silicon Valley-based technology company,  to deploy Pronto’s autonomous haulage technologies to quarry operations in the North American market, the companies announced Thursday.  

The partnership centers on the launch of Komatsu Smart Quarry Autonomous, powered by Pronto, a system that integrates Pronto’s autonomy technologies into quarry-sized haul trucks and ties into Komatsu’s Smart Quarry solutions.  

The new OEM-agnostic solution will allow quarry operators to retrofit existing Komatsu vehicles or purchase new trucks equipped with Pronto’s self-driving system, enabling 24/7 operation with minimal human intervention.  

The result is a step-change in operations: promoting safety by removing drivers from the immediate quarry environment, facilitating consistent cycle times with better fuel efficiency and providing data-driven insights via the Smart Quarry platform designed to optimize the overall operation of quarries, the companies said in a joint statement.  

“Partnering with…Komatsu is about more than technology, it’s about accelerating the future of heavy industry,” Pronto CEO Anthony Levandowski said in a news release. “Previously, the most advanced autonomy was reserved for the largest mines. Today, by combining Komatsu’s trusted hardware and vast support network with Pronto’s scalable, intelligent autonomous platform, we are fundamentally changing the game. We’re enabling a future of enhanced safety and incredible productivity that is now accessible to quarries of all sizes.” 

Pronto’s autonomous technologies utilize advanced artificial intelligence and rugged sensors to perceive the environment and navigate haul roads. This is designed to significantly lower the cost and complexity of deploying autonomy for quarries of all sizes. Combined with Komatsu’s Smart Quarry Site fleet management and analytics suite, operators will be equipped with insight and real-time control over their operations, the companies said.  

“This collaboration with Pronto accelerates our vision of smart, automated quarry operations,” Komatsu’s Senior Director for Customer Solutions Jason Anetsberger said.  “We have decades of experience with autonomous haulage in large-scale mining. Now we’re bringing that expertise to quarries of all sizes. It’s a solution that helps drive productivity beyond what was previously possible and can support efforts to enhance safety by facilitating the removal of workers from areas of potential hazard.”