China rolls out first unmanned mining tram

CHANGSHA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's first unmanned mining tram rolled off an assembly line at its manufacturing plant in central China's Hunan province on Monday.

The tram's transmission system features intelligent control technology, said Huang Guoxing, chief engineer with Hunan Xiangtan Hauling Machine Plant, where the locomotive was manufactured.
Huang said other advanced technologies including computer control, wireless communication and control area network -- a method for enabling robust serial communication in industrial automation and automotive applications -- were also integrated in the tram.

Jointly designed by Hunan Xiangtan Hauling Machine Plant and China Enfi Engineering Corp., it will first be put into use in a copper mine in east China's Anhui province. Huang said the tram would reduce energy costs by 30 percent in comparison with traditional locomotives.

Also, the risks of human casualty are eliminated as no drivers are needed for the vehicle during mining activities, he added.

With a hauling capacity of 20 tonnes, the tram is capable of self-diagnosis when it breaks down and relaying messages to a control center for further handling.

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