Chinese Engineers Deploy Unmanned Trucks at World’s Highest Mine, 5,600 Metres High
- MM24 News Desk
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Chinese engineers have successfully trialed a fleet of autonomous mining trucks at the Huoshaoyun lead-zinc mine in Xinjiang, operating at a staggering altitude of 5,600 metres (18,372 feet). This unmanned system, developed to conquer the low-oxygen, frigid environment, enables 24/7 operations and marks a major step in extracting the site’s estimated 370 billion yuan (US$52.3 billion) in mineral resources.
Perched higher than the world’s highest human settlement, this remote mine in the Kunlun Mountains represents one of the most extreme industrial environments on Earth. Here, atmospheric oxygen is halved, temperatures are brutally low, and permafrost runs deep. For human workers, these conditions pose severe physiological hazards, making traditional mining perilous and inefficient. The solution, reported by Science and Technology Daily, was to remove the driver from the cab entirely and create an intelligent, unmanned operation.
The state-owned Huoshaoyun Lead-zinc Mine Company partnered with Beijing Linghang Zhitu Technology Company, a subsidiary of the China Railway 19th Bureau Group, to develop and deploy the autonomous haulage system. "This achievement marks a major breakthrough in China’s intelligent mining development within high-altitude extreme environments, contributing an advanced ‘Chinese solution’ to global plateau mineral resource exploitation," stated the official Science and Technology Daily report on December 1.
The technological backbone of this operation is formidable. The unmanned trucks are powered by an integrated system using multi-sensor fusion perception and 5G-enabled cloud network coordination. This allows the vehicles to precisely recognize obstacles, interpret operational markers, and plan optimal routes in real-time as they navigate the mine’s complex terrain of steep gradients and sharp bends. According to the report, this ensures efficient and safe transport of ore from the pit.
Safety, however, hasn’t been left to automation alone. Engineers have installed real-time remote simulation cockpits, creating a vital safety net. From thousands of miles away, safety personnel can take immediate control of any truck in an emergency. Using high-definition cameras that provide 360-degree panoramic footage, operators can remotely execute precise steering, braking, and loading commands. This dual-layer approach—full autonomy overseen by human remote control—mitigates risk in an environment where on-site intervention is nearly impossible.
The economic imperative driving this technological feat is enormous. Discovered in 2016, the Huoshaoyun deposit is a world-class, super-large reserve containing over 21 million tonnes of lead and zinc, making it the sixth-largest of its kind globally. Tapping this 370 billion yuan treasure trove, however, required innovating past the altitude. The mine now operates continuously, significantly boosting transport efficiency without exposing a single worker to the dangerous altitude where oxygen levels are just 50% of those at sea level.
The mine’s ambition extends beyond just driverless trucks. The plan is to expand the fleet of autonomous equipment and enable the remote operation of excavators, ultimately aiming for a completely unmanned "loading-transport-dumping" workflow. This project stands as a testament to using technology to push the boundaries of resource extraction, accessing mineral wealth in zones previously considered too hostile for sustained industrial activity.
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