Design and Evaluation of a System of Systems Architecture for the Optimization of a Cyclic Transport Operation

Cyclic transport missions involving fleets of vehicles are common in quarry and mining operations and have shown to have a significant potential for energy optimization. Vehicles such as articulated haulers and dump trucks utilized in transport missions can be of different brand, type and have different performance characteristics such as engine power, traction and load. Vehicles may also be operated and owned by different organizations as they can be subcontracted to an operation. The transport operation characteristics include stochastic behaviors and activity times that fluctuate over time, and hence real-time control is required for efficient optimization. As the vehicles are mobile, wireless communication also needs to be available. As the constituent systems (vehicles) have managerial and operational independence, a system of systems approach is applicable. This paper provides an overview of the key characteristics and requirements for such a system and discusses the pros and cons of acknowledged and directed system architectures. Further, a case study is presented where an acknowledged system of systems is implemented in a real world mine and evaluated through a qualitative assessment of an operator assistive optimization system. Key findings include the drawbacks and characteristics of the architecture approaches. Further challenges and potential for automation and production control of a larger process system are described.