Komatsu Achieves TRL4 Mining Safety Certification
Komatsu South Africa says it has become the first surface trackless mobile machinery (TMM) original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to achieve Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL4) certification for its collision prevention technology.
The certification follows independent testing by the University of Pretoria (UP) at the Gerotek Test Facilities in West Pretoria and at a controlled mining customer site.
Testing collision prevention technology
TRL4 verification for collision prevention systems (CPS) and collision warning devices (CxD) involves a staged testing process.
The University of Pretoria conducts initial laboratory testing before moving to controlled tests with light vehicles at Gerotek. The final stage takes place within a cordoned-off area at a customer mine site.
The testing is conducted under the Minerals Council South Africa Mine Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) framework.
The process is designed to establish whether collision prevention technology can perform reliably under progressively more realistic operating conditions.
Automatic braking and propulsion control
The TRL4 certification indicates that Komatsu’s machinery can automatically inhibit propulsion or apply braking when an imminent collision risk is detected.
The system is designed to meet the requirements of ISO 21815, an international standard covering collision awareness and intervention for mining machinery.
The technology provides a factory-integrated pathway towards Level 9 collision prevention, where a machine can intervene automatically to prevent or mitigate an impending collision.
For mining operations, this represents an important development as fleets become increasingly automated and the interaction between heavy mobile equipment and other vehicles becomes more complex.
South Africa leads collision-prevention development
Komatsu’s achievement follows other recent TRL4 milestones within South Africa’s mining technology sector.
Hexagon Mining announced earlier in 2026 that its latest Vehicle Intervention System had passed the MOSH CPS TRL4 test specification following University of Pretoria testing.
Mine Safe Global subsequently reported achieving MOSH TRL4 verification for both collision detection and machine intervention within an integrated collision prevention product range.
The developments highlight South Africa’s growing role in the testing and advancement of mining collision-prevention systems.
Regulations driving technology adoption
South Africa has also established a regulatory framework supporting the development of advanced collision-prevention technology.
In December 2022, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) brought the Chapter 8 provisions of the Mine Health and Safety Act Regulations into effect, including requirements relating to Level 9 vehicle intervention for collision avoidance in trackless mobile machinery operating in surface and underground mines.
As mines continue adopting autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment, technologies capable of detecting hazards and automatically intervening are becoming increasingly important.
Komatsu’s TRL4 certification demonstrates the progress being made towards integrating these capabilities directly into mining equipment, potentially improving safety while supporting the industry’s broader move towards smarter and more autonomous operations.
About The Author
