Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 25, Huawei announced via WeChat the successful delivery of the world’s first 5,000-meter-high plateau autonomous mining project at Xizang's Yulong Copper Mine. Developed in collaboration with West Mining and China Railway 19th Bureau, the project demonstrates the adaptability and feasibility of autonomous driving technology in extreme environments.
Currently, a fleet of multi-group unmanned mining trucks operates on roads stretching several kilometers, with a minimum width of 20 meters and a maximum gradient of 8%. The project aims to achieve normalized autonomous operations by the first quarter of 2025, with efficiency comparable to traditional manual operations. Since the project's launch in September 2024, the joint team overcame significant high-altitude challenges to complete demonstration within just three months.
The core of the Yulong Copper Mine's autonomous solution lies in "cloud-network-vehicle" synergy. Powered by Huawei Cloud's AI capabilities, the system supports autonomous driving training, intelligent operation monitoring, high-precision mapping, and route planning. Multiple 5G base stations, installed in partnership with China Mobile's Xizang branch, ensure full 5G coverage, enabling real-time sensor data uploads and map updates within minutes to optimize efficiency and safety.
Additionally, the intelligent scheduling system optimizes workflows, decreases road and vehicle maintenance frequency, and cuts fuel and tire consumption. The two fleets of 10 autonomous trucks each can save approximately 6 million yuan annually compared to traditional methods.
