Energy-Efficient Off-Road Navigation of an Unmanned Mining Truck on a Rough Terrain

Abstract

This paper presents a solution to the complex challenge of optimizing the navigation of unmanned mining trucks across challenging terrain. The primary goal is to minimize fuel consumption while ensuring safety by avoiding designated hazard zones. The developed algorithm efficiently calculates an optimal path for the truck by considering both the terrain’s geometric characteristics and safety constraints. Importantly, this research rigorously proves the global optimality of the proposed navigation algorithm. Our work contributes to enhancing the efficiency and safety of autonomous mining operations.