Sandvik has launched AutoMine Aura, a first-of-its-kind underground mining automation platform described as fully engineered for the future.
The system represents the most significant evolution of Sandvik’s AutoMine solution since it was introduced more than 20 years ago, said to transform every layer of the AutoMine platform.
Upgrades include the delivery of full situational awareness with zero blind spots, enabling higher utilisation and consistent productivity in underground environments.
The platform introduces a new navigation system with 3D perception, the most advanced and productive in the industry, which has been proven to move over 15 per cent more material in one of the harshest underground mines globally.
According to Sandvik, the platform integrates with existing networks and access control systems, eliminating the need for infrastructure changes. Evolving the underlying platform enables mines to fully leverage future technologies while continuing to support today’s operations.
AutoMine is said to have achieve achieved almost nine million hours without a lost time injury (LTI) since its launch, with AutoMine Aura continuing to build on these capabilities while 3D perception and adaptive intelligence enhance these capabilities.
“AutoMine is already a world-leading solution, proven across over 140 mines globally,” Sandvik vice president of automation David Hallett said.
“With AutoMine Aura, we have not built the next version; we have built an entirely new platform. The navigation system with 3D perception is the first of its kind in the industry, and the productivity gains, including moving over 15 per cent more material, have been proven and validated at our customer sites.
“This confirms what this technology means for our customers and for the future of mining.”