Agent-Based Optimization for Truck Dispatching in Open-Pit Mines
Abstract
The mining industry has long recognized the value of dispatch systems in open pit mines as they reduce load and haul costs. Over the years, researchers have proposed many dispatch systems with various limitations and advantages. The simplest dispatch algorithms are the so called 1-truck-for-N-shovels dispatch strategy. These algorithms are limited by the fact that their objective functions do not consider all the objectives of a mine and cannot be applied to all possible truck-shovel configurations. They are also myopic in nature. However, they are simple and computationally efficient and do not require occasional updates of the upper stage problem as required in multi-stage dispatch algorithms. In this work, an agent-based truck dispatch algorithm that conceptualizes trucks as intelligent agents that make autonomous dispatching decisions to maximize their utility is proposed. The advantages of this algorithm includes utility functions that encapsulate all of management's objectives and agent's with broad situational awareness. They are also more suitable for autonomous trucks. We evaluate the new algorithm against a simple 1-truck-for-N-shovels dispatch strategies using discrete event simulation. The simulation results show that the new utility function has significant advantages over 1-truck-for-N-shovels inspired utility functions. Future work will incorporate adaptive behavior into the model via reinforcement learning algorithm.
Recommended Citation
M. Owusu-Tweneboah et al., "Agent-Based Optimization for Truck Dispatching in Open-Pit Mines," Proceedings of the 2019 SME Annual Conference and Expo and CMA 121st National Western Mining Conference (2019, Denver, CO), Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), Feb 2019.
Meeting Name
2019 SME Annual Conference and Expo and CMA 121st National Western Mining Conference (2019: Feb. 24-27, Denver, CO)
Department(s)
Mining Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Automobiles; Autonomous Agents; Discrete Event Simulation; Electric Load Dispatching; Intelligent Agents; Mine Trucks; Reinforcement Learning; Utility Trucks, Adaptive Behavior; Agent-Based Optimization; Computationally Efficient; Dispatch Algorithms; Dispatch Strategy; Objective Functions; Situational Awareness; Truck Dispatching, Open Pit Mining
International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
978-151088466-3
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2019 Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Feb 2019
