PITTSBURGH—Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute are working with colleagues at Caterpillar Inc. to develop autonomous versions of large haul trucks used in mining operations.
The Robotics Institute will be adapting more than a decade's worth of its research into self-driving vehicles for use with Caterpillar's two largest haul trucks, each with payload capacities of 240 tons or more. This is the first major project resulting from a three-year master agreement for sponsored research signed last year by Carnegie Mellon and Caterpillar, the world's leading manufacturer of construction, mining and other heavy equipment. Researchers at the Robotics Institute's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) will work closely with Caterpillar's Pittsburgh Automation Center, which opened in September 2007.
"We've assembled a great team of people from across the institute who are excited to play a major role in delivering this groundbreaking capability," said Tony Stentz, the principal investigator and associate director of the NREC.
"This project is one of many allowing researchers and engineers from the National Robotics Engineering Center and Caterpillar to create innovative solutions for differentiated Cat products and services, with increased speed to market," said Sam Kherat, manager of the Pittsburgh Automation Center.
The driverless haul truck is part of an autonomous mining haulage system that Caterpillar recently announced it is developing with BHP Billiton Ltd., a leading global resources company. Plans call for autonomous trucks to be integrated into some BHP Billiton mine sites by 2010. The autonomous technology is designed to provide productivity gains through more consistency in processes. It is expected that autonomous mining will help minimize environmental impact by both improved efficiency and overall mine safety.
The Carnegie Mellon team will be adapting perception, planning and autonomous software architectures that it originally developed for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA) UGCV-PerceptOR (UPI) autonomous vehicle program and the DARPA Urban Challenge robot race. Caterpillar, based in Peoria, Ill., was a major sponsor of the Carnegie Mellon Tartan Racing team that won the $2 million Urban Challenge race in Victorville, Calif., last November.
"This is a perfect example of how Caterpillar's long-term relationship with Carnegie Mellon can strengthen our position as the industry's technical leader," said Gwenne Henricks, vice president of Caterpillar's Electronics & Connected Worksite Division.
About Carnegie Mellon: Carnegie Mellon is a private research university with a distinctive mix of programs in engineering, computer science, robotics, business, public policy, fine arts and the humanities. More than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students receive an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation. A small student-to-faculty ratio provides an opportunity for close interaction between students and professors. While technology is pervasive on its 144-acre Pittsburgh campus, Carnegie Mellon is also distinctive among leading research universities for the world-renowned programs in its College of Fine Arts. A global university, Carnegie Mellon has campuses in Silicon Valley, Calif., and Qatar, and programs in Asia, Australia and Europe. For more, see www.cmu.edu.
About Caterpillar: For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2007 sales and revenues of $44.958 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at www.cat.com