Chilean copper mine Compañía Minera Lomas Bayas has implemented a collision avoidance system capable of autonomously stopping its tyre handler when a person enters a danger zone. The manipulator enables the transport, installation, removal, and stockpiling of large mining tyres. These tasks require personnel to be present on-site, working in confined spaces and in close proximity to heavy-tonnage components.
This advancement is part of a process that began in July 2025, when Lomas Bayas adopted Proxicam – a technology utilising sensors and AI enabled cameras to create a 360-degree safety zone around the tyre handler that was developed by Australia’s FleetSafe. The initial stage involved a Level 8 system, which issued visual and audible alerts based on the distance between the equipment and nearby individuals. Risk mitigation relied on the reactions of the operator and the personnel present in the area.
The new stage upgrades this technology to Level 9, a category that incorporates autonomous machine intervention. “Reaching Level 9 means implementing a safety barrier capable of acting independently to halt mobile equipment when a person is detected. The Operations Department is the first to deploy this system – a milestone that fills us with pride and reinforces our commitment to protecting lives,” noted Erick Franco, Senior Engineer for Tyres and Dust.
The technology operates via a magnetic field between the manipulator and personal PAD sensors – devices that all personnel within the area are required to carry. This field establishes a yellow warning zone and a red danger zone. These sensors were supplied by Strata Worldwide.
If a person enters this zone, the machine stops in practically one second, without relying solely on human reaction time. “The system operates autonomously and halts the equipment to prevent potential hazardous interaction between person and machine, as well as possible fatalities,” explained Michael Morales of Bailac, the tyre management company at Lomas Bayas that operates the tyre handlers. This solution complements the operational procedures, area segregation, critical controls, and engineering barriers implemented in tyre management.
Compañía Minera Lomas Bayas, part of the Glencore group, is located in the Antofagasta Region and produces high-purity copper cathodes. The company operates a low-grade deposit using efficient processes and incorporates technological solutions that enhance the safety, sustainability, and reliability of its operations.
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