When unmanned systems or drones are mentioned the first thing that comes to mind is the hobby units or the ubiquitous Predator unmanned aircraft that are constantly mentioned in the news. What does not seem to be newsworthy but should be is that Rio Tinto Mining has put into operation one of the largest robotic systems on the planet that comprises of autonomous trucks and trains (Mininig Technology, 2016). Advances in technology have increased in both the decision logic and the equipment to allow the replacement of workers, particularly those with a single function such as driving a mining truck or operating a train.
Is it ethical to replace a human worker with a robotic system? That depends on which side of the equation you are on. When Rio Tinto implemented their robotic train system it increased productivity 20% while reducing costs and improving safety, it also earned certification from Australian safety authorities (Smartrail World, 2018). Lowering overall costs and increasing productivity is always a positive outcome for the company, the workers, on the other hand, may see it as an attempt to eliminate their jobs and feel threatened by the introduction of these “disruptive” technologies. This can be mitigated by retraining of the same employees to become maintainers of the systems that are replacing them. It increases their chances of employability later on and also enhances their skill sets. Far too often, unskilled labor is concerned with the short term disruptions rather than the long term benefits of these technologies. For example, there is a little known benefit in the United States when work is offshored known as the Trade Adjustment Act, the author was the beneficiary of this very system when his job was eliminated because of bankruptcy and the work was offshored to a foreign repair station to lower costs. There are opportunities out there, no longer is labor buttonholed into a particular trade for life. The industry is adapting and so should labor, by learning about and adapting to new technologies they will only make themselves more valuable in the future.
These unmanned systems that Rio Tino has developed and implemented have also increased safety in the dangerous mining operations that are in remote locations. The massive mine trucks are no longer subject to the physical condition of the operator, they run 24 hours a day, have repeatable results, and have eliminated human error (Mininig Technology, 2016). Humans operators are standing by in case of problems to take over and perform teleoperation including the on-site maintenance personnel (Mininig Technology, 2016).
What is even more impressive than the robotic mine trucks is the unmanned rail system used to deliver the ore to the port 175 miles away from the mine, and it has been certified by the Australian safety authorities (Smartrail World, 2018). Using a system such as this that has to interact with the public can pose some challenges considering that although trains have the right of way they still have to deal with vehicle traffic. Automating the trains have several benefits, there is no longer a need for crew changes in remote areas thereby reducing costs by eliminating both drivers to shuttle the crews and the chances for accidents while traversing the desolate landscape. Delivery frequency is increased as the equipment is utilized more, and they now have true 24/7 operations while lowering costs (Kwan, 2019).
The use of this automated technology is not without its drawbacks, it has been reported that Rio Tinto was proposing using drones to monitor its company provided housing and by default its employees that live there all in an effort to implement a smart infrastructure in its operations (Opray, 2016). This can lead to some privacy concerns and it is understandable, although the company may be providing housing in the remote areas where the mines operate in Australia, it harkens back to the time when the mining companies controlled every aspect of their employees life in the company owned mining towns where employees had to live in company housing and shop at the company store. The company has argued that these surveillance operations are part of their modernization efforts across all of their facilities to not only monitor their employees on the clock, which they have a right to do, but off the clock as well which enters a legal grey area because they are using company provided housing (Opray, 2016).
Overall, we must realize that unmanned systems are not just relegated to the military and combat systems anymore. They have been successfully integrated into the heavy industry to increase safety and productivity while creating new opportunities for the displaced workforce. This is predicated of course on that displaced workforce taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them to learn new skills and increase their value through what they have to offer.
Kwan, C. (2019, January 2). Rio Tinto completes rollout of world-first autonomous iron ore rail operation. Retrieved from ZD Net: https://www.zdnet.com/article/rio-tinto-completes-rollout-of-first-heavy-haul-long-distance-autonomous-rail-operation-in-the-world/
Mininig Technology. (2016, March 9). Rio Tinto: rolling out the world’s first fully driverless mines. Retrieved from Mining Technology: https://www.mining-technology.com/features/featurerio-tinto-rolling-out-the-worlds-first-fully-driverless-mines-4831021/
Opray, M. (2016, December 7). Revealed: Rio Tinto’s plan to use drones to monitor workers’ private lives. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/08/revealedrio-tinto-surveillance-station-plans-to-use-drones-to-monitors-staffs-private-lives
Smartrail World. (2018, May 23). “Mind blowing” Rio Tinto autonomous train tech earns official safety approval. Retrieved from Smartrail World: https://www.smartrailworld.com/mind-blowing-rio-tinto-autonomous-train-safety-approval
Patrick Carroll 