China launches 100 AI-powered mining trucks in global first for automation
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China has deployed the world's largest fleet of autonomous electric mining trucks, with 100 driverless vehicles now operating at a coal mine in Inner Mongolia, media reported on Thursday.
The trucks, equipped with technology from Huawei Technologies, were developed by Huaneng Mengdong, a subsidiary of the state-owned energy conglomerate Huaneng Group.
Company chairman Li Shuxue called the 'Huaneng Ruichi' fleet the largest single deployment of its kind globally.
'These vehicles integrate advanced technologies such as 5G-A communication, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, intelligent battery swapping, and high-precision mapping,' Li said.
The project's technology providers include Huaneng Group, Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group, and the Beijing University of Science and Technology.
The driverless trucks are designed to load and unload materials autonomously and operate reliably in extreme weather, a key requirement for the often-harsh conditions of Inner Mongolia's mining zones.
Li added that the new fleet could increase transport efficiency by as much as 20% compared to conventional manned trucks.
China is accelerating the integration of smart technologies in mining.
According to the China National Coal Association, more than 5,000 automated mining trucks are expected to be in use across the country by the end of 2025, with that number projected to double to 10,000 by 2026.
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