TeleDrive: Teleoperated and Autonomous Driving of Unmanned Vehicles in Confined Areas

The demand for base metals will play an important role as Sweden transitions to an electrified vehicle fleet and a sustainable industry. Competitive solutions will play a pivotal role in the value creation of mining. Mine automation holds the potential for substantial energy savings through the optimization of mining processes. Autonomous solutions also benefit from both safety and productivity. Moreover, autonomous solutions can contribute to reduced emissions, eliminating human presence in hazardous environments, enhancing productivity, and optimizing resource usage. Unmanned ground and underground vehicles can maneuver through narrow passages, navigate through difficult terrains, and perform drilling without a human operator onboard. Instead, these vehicles can be automated or remotely guided by operators stationed in a distant command center. Improved connectivity, automatic reporting from machinery, and positioning systems provide opportunities for better planning and increased mine productivity.

This project focuses on the teleoperation of unmanned vehicles in confined environments, such as mines. Specifically, it addresses the unique communication challenges associated with teleoperation in underground mine environments and investigates the interoperability of different communication technologies. Additionally, the project emphasizes the functional safety of automated vehicles and leverages AI to enable predictable and fault-tolerant mine ecosystems.

TeleDrive is a two-year project (2024–2026) funded by the Swedish Knowledge Foundation. It is collaboratively conducted and co-produced by Mälardalen University, Volvo Construction Equipment AB, and Boliden Minerals AB. The project's work packages are as follows:

• WP1: Requirement specification and hazard identification
• WP2: Vehicles: Predictable and robust communication
• WP3: Field tests: Communication and Control
• WP4: Mine: Hazard prediction, fail-safe state, and optimized productivity
• WP5: Standardization (long-term impacts)
• WP6: Project management