Caterpillar's Cat MineStar System Helps Mining Companies Get The Most From Their Assets

Caterpillar has designed the new Cat MineStar System to help mining companies get the most from their assets, whether working at large or small mines, surface or underground. Cat MineStar System consists of a number of capability sets - now including Fleet, Terrain, Detect, Health and Command - which are fully integrated so that information is shared across the system and used to optimize productivity, enhance safety and improve machine utilization and uptime. The system also puts actionable information in the hands of managers to enable them to make fact-based decisions.

The new Cat® MineStar™ System builds on existing Cat mining technologies and adds new capabilities to create a comprehensive mine operations and equipment management system. The system is configurable and scalable to enable mine managers to define the size and scope that best serve the needs of the mine.

Cat MineStar System includes all the capabilities from a range of familiar Cat mining technologies, including MineStar FleetCommander, MineStar Health, CAES, AQUILA™ Drill and Dragline Systems, MINEGEM™ and Integrated Object Detection System™. Also, it encompasses a wide range of new capabilities, including autonomous, semi-autonomous and remote control equipment systems, proximity awareness and more.

All of these technologies are integrated into a seamless system that can provide the big picture at a glance while enabling a manager to drill down to the individual asset level as required. Sharing data across the capability sets gives Cat MineStar System greater flexibility as well as broad and deep capabilities.

The system now includes five capability sets. Fleet provides real-time machine tracking, scheduling, assignment and productivity management. Fleet can enhance management of grading, loading, hauling and auxiliary equipment operations and can provide an overview of production to key decision makers and managers.

Terrain enables high-precision management of drilling, dragline, grading and loading operations through the use of guidance technology. It increases machine productivity and provides real-time feedback to operators for improved efficiency. Terrain allows mines to make management information available across their mining operations, aiding in everything from drill planning and blasting to ore control and site planning.

Detect helps increase operator awareness for enhanced safety. It includes a number of sensing and reporting systems designed to assist the operator in avoiding collisions. Such systems include proximity awareness of fixed and mobile equipment as well as detection of smaller objects. Detect is designed for a wide range of equipment, including both Cat and other brands of off-highway trucks, Cat track-type tractors, Cat wheel loaders, Cat motor graders, Cat wheel dozers, shovels and light-duty vehicles.

Health provides comprehensive equipment health and asset monitoring capabilities, and it delivers critical event-based machine condition and operating data for the mining fleet. Health offers a wide range of diagnostic, analytic and reporting tools. Health works with virtually all mine site equipment assets, including equipment from other manufacturers.

By integrating the capabilities of Fleet, Terrain, Detect and Health, Command can deliver improvements in safety, productivity and equipment availability. Command includes remote control, semi-autonomous and autonomous systems for both surface and underground mobile mining equipment. Command is available or will be available soon on select blasthole drills, Cat underground load haul dump machines, off-highway trucks and track-type tractors.

The system is scalable and configurable to allow mining companies to define the system based on the needs of their operations. While offering building block technologies to suit any mine, the new Cat MineStar System also incorporates the capabilities to move on to the next generation of mining technology.