About the Client

SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile) is a global mining and chemical company, recognized as one of the world’s leading producers of lithium, specialty plant nutrients, iodine, and industrial chemicals. Its operations include critical logistics infrastructure, such as port facilities, where efficiency, safety, and reliability are essential.

The Challenge

At SQM’s port operations in the Port of Tocopilla, operating the ship loader arm is a critical activity for material handling. Traditionally, this task exposes operators to potentially hazardous conditions, including accessing the equipment cabin, working at height, and operating under adverse environmental conditions such as wind and rain.

SQM aimed to improve:

  • Operator safety, by reducing direct exposure to operational risks
  • Efficiency, by minimizing travel time to the equipment and improving working conditions
  • Operational control, by providing operators with better tools to manage the process

The challenge was to enable the remote operation of a high-capacity ship loader arm while ensuring smooth control, real-time feedback, and high reliability under demanding conditions.

The Solution

Godelius designed and implemented a teleoperation system that allows the ship loader arm to be operated remotely from a safe and controlled environment.

The solution included:

  • Remote operation station, replicating the operator interface with high fidelity
  • Real-time video and data, providing full visibility and operational feedback
  • Low-latency communication systems, ensuring precise and responsive control
  • Integration with existing infrastructure, maintaining operational continuity

Prior to deployment, the system underwent a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) at Godelius’ Robotics Development Center, where performance, safety, and reliability were validated under simulated operating conditions.

Results

The implementation enabled SQM to transition from a traditional operation to a remote-controlled system, achieving:

  • Improved safety, by eliminating operator exposure to hazardous conditions
  • Enhanced operational control, with more consistent and precise operation
  • Increased reliability, through improved operating conditions

This project demonstrates how remote operation technologies can modernize critical industrial processes, combining human expertise with advanced engineering solutions to enhance safety and efficiency in real-world operations.

Picture: Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) at Godelius’ Robotics Development Center