Veículos autônomos na mineração: avanços, desafios e perspectivas futuras

Abstract

This study explores the impact of autonomous vehicles in mining, highlighting technological advancements, implementation challenges, and future prospects, addressing the issue of decarbonizing operations. The research was motivated by the question: "What are the advancements, challenges, and future prospects of implementing autonomous vehicles in mining, especially regarding operational efficiency and environmental sustainability?". Initial hypotheses suggested that autonomous vehicles improve efficiency and safety, have high implementation costs, but provide long-term benefits and contribute to decarbonization. The objective was to comprehensively explore these aspects. The adopted method involved a detailed analysis of existing literature on autonomous vehicles in mining. Data were collected from case studies of mines in Canada and Australia, focusing on operational characteristics and economic, environmental, and safety impacts. The analysis was based on the theoretical framework of automation and sustainability. The results indicate that the implementation of autonomous vehicles brings significant improvements in operational efficiency and safety, in addition to contributing to environmental sustainability and decarbonization of operations. It was concluded that, despite the high initial costs, the long-term benefits justify investments in autonomous technologies in mining.