A fleet comprising 40 Zoomlion hybrid ZT160HEV trucks, equipped with CiDi’s advanced autonomous haulage system, was recently delivered to a coal mining operation in Xinjiang. The deployment has brought the total number of unmanned mining trucks at the site to more than 120.
CiDi regards this as a significant milestone in the large-scale implementation of its intelligent driving technology. The company states that this achievement not only validates the maturity and reliability of its solutions under extreme conditions but also demonstrates a high level of industry confidence in its autonomous capabilities.
Both CiDi and Zoomlion are headquartered in Changsha, where they have collaborated to establish a leading artificial intelligence and manufacturing hub. The Zoomlion ZT160HEV is among the first wide-body dump trucks with a payload capacity of 100 tons. Its ZM-i super hybrid energy management system provides a 20.9% saving in diesel fuel consumption. Featuring a direct diesel engine connection and dual-motor synchronous drive, the vehicle increases loaded uphill operational speed by 50%. Zoomlion further notes that the truck offers industry-leading braking performance, boasting mechanical torque up to 330,000 Nm. The vehicle’s high-strength welded frame, with a fully closed one-piece design, enhances structural stability. Integrating mechanical, cylinder, liquid force, and electric buffering, the joint braking control strategy ensures a superior level of safety. The truck is powered by a 570 kW Yuchai YCK16775-T300 engine and is fitted with a 90 kWh battery pack.
The newly delivered fleet is the result of comprehensive collaboration between the two companies and has already demonstrated reliable 24/7 autonomous operation. According to CiDi, this accomplishment reflects both technical excellence and adaptability in challenging environments.
The mining region experiences winter temperatures dropping to -30°C, which pose significant challenges for new energy and autonomous systems, including potential sensor malfunctions, reduced battery performance, and delayed response in wire-controlled mechanisms. Additionally, dust from mining activities can impair the functioning of smart cameras and LiDAR, compromising environmental recognition accuracy.
To address low-temperature issues, CiDi reports upgrading hardware configurations, utilizing sensors and core components with enhanced resistance to cold, and implementing custom heating protection modules. These measures ensure stable operation of vital components, such as sensors and wire control systems.
For dust mitigation, CiDi employs multiple redundant perception technologies, combining LiDAR, millimetre-wave radar, and visual sensors with proprietary dust filtration algorithms. This integrated approach enables accurate detection and positioning of obstacles and operational routes, even in adverse weather conditions.
Finally, CiDi has successfully enabled large-scale unmanned cluster operations within the mining area. The independently developed cluster scheduling system plans optimal driving routes for each truck based on current road conditions and task priorities and dynamically coordinates processes such as vehicle interaction, avoidance, loading, and unloading to prevent congestion. The system supports multi-vehicle cooperative grouping and ensures prompt transmission of operational instructions through low-latency vehicle-to-vehicle communication, maintaining consistency and safety across the fleet.
