ABB has introduced GMD Copilot, an AI-driven digital assistant designed to optimize the management and upkeep of gearless mill drives (GMDs). This tool provides immediate, context-specific insights, offering a comprehensive view of system performance to improve decision-making in GMD operation and maintenance.
Gearless mill drives are used in grinding mills that separate valuable minerals from rock, offering more efficient and reliable operations without mechanical drivetrain components. This leads to lower emissions, contributing to the industry’s efforts to meet the growing demand for minerals like copper, essential for a low-carbon future. With copper demand expected to exceed supply by nearly 5 million tons by 2030, increasing production efficiency is critical to support global electrification and decarbonization efforts.
Building on traditional maintenance approaches that rely on technical manuals and service reports, GMD Copilot takes it a step further by allowing users to ask questions in natural language and receive instant, actionable insights via ABB’s cloud-based monitoring platform, GMD Connect. The tool provides access to a wide range of operational data such as technical documentation, maintenance recommendations, and guidelines, helping users manage GMD systems more effectively. Its integration with GMD Connect also provides real-time health updates on GMD systems, helping to identify potential issues before they lead to unplanned downtime.
Key features of GMD Copilot include robust security measures that ensure data privacy and protection, with project-specific access to prevent unauthorized third-party involvement. Additionally, it offers multilingual support, making it ideal for global operations by assisting teams in different regions with their preferred language.
Carlos Miguez Fernandez, Global Product Manager for Service, Business Line Gearless Mill Drives at ABB Process Industries, commented, “By leveraging generative AI in core industrial applications, we are addressing the increasing demand for efficient and responsive GMD maintenance solutions. GMD Copilot is the latest addition to our suite of tools designed to enhance operational uptime and ensure peak performance across GMD systems.”
ABB is a leading global provider of electrification and automation technologies, enabling a sustainable and resource-efficient future. Through its expertise in engineering and digitalization, ABB helps industries operate at high performance while improving efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. ABB’s Process Automation division is dedicated to automating, electrifying, and digitalizing industrial operations, contributing to a more efficient and sustainable global economy.
