How Sandvik’s AutoMine Aura Boosts Productivity 15%

Through its AutoMine platform, Sandvik has spent more than 20 years refining the technology that powers autonomous underground mining operations.   

AutoMine Aura features a 3D perception system which is, according to Sandvik, the most advanced and productive in the industry, moving 15% more material than previous versions by reducing equipment downtime caused by underground hazards. 

Safety improvements are also central to the platform. AutoMine has logged almost nine million hours without lost time injury (LTI) over two decades. The Aura platform’s improved remote operating system builds on safety principles by reducing human exposure to dust, noise and vibration.

David Hallett, Vice President, Automation at Sandvik, says: “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% 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.”

Reduced equipment downtime for improved material moving 

AutoMine Aura’s navigation system delivers “full situational awareness with zero blind spots”, even in harsh underground mine environments. 

Its 3D mapping system enables it to spot and avoid hazards better than ever before, removing operational downtime to increase productivity. Sandvik says this has proven to move 15% more material during testing using underground loaders in live mine production cycles. 

AutoMine Aura is also designed to integrate with existing networks and access control systems, removing the need for any infrastructure upgrades before deployment. This means mining operations can adopt the system without pausing production. 

AutoMine Aura is available on underground loaders, with Sandvik confirming a rollout to further product lines. 

The commercial case for automation

As well as through hazard avoidance, automated mining systems reduce operational stalls during shift changes, controlled blasts and other breaks in production where humans need to be removed from the live mining environment.

For mines producing high-value metals like copper or gold, additional tonnes produced each shift add up to significant revenue gains over a production cycle. 

Sandvik’s figure of 15% improvement in productivity is consistent with other documented real-world results. Rio Tinto's deployment of autonomous haulage systems across around 400 trucks at its Pilbara operations produced a comparable improvement, according to IMARC Group research.

AutoMine is already deployed across more than 140 mines globally. As Sandvik expands the Aura platform beyond underground loaders to further product lines, the productivity and safety gains are expected to scale across a much wider range of operations. 

Enhanced safety through remote access

Remote access means a single operator can control multiple machines from a safe, above-ground location, removing the need for personnel to work underground and close to active mining equipment. 

The redesigned operator interface also gives controllers a more comprehensive view of underground conditions, improving situational awareness and further reducing the need for physical intervention. 

This reduces direct exposure to dust, noise and vibration, all of which carry long-term health risks for mine workers. 

Sandvik says the improved clarity of view also supports faster, better-informed decision-making during operations. It also claims the shift supports workforce development, moving personnel from dangerous underground roles into more technology-focused positions.