Enaex and SRI International join forces to unleash the Robominer

By Dale Benton
The Robominer exists, and he walks among us. Enaex, global leaders in explosives for mining and civil works, has partnerwt with SRI International to of...

The Robominer exists, and he walks among us.

Enaex, global leaders in explosives for mining and civil works, has partnerwt with SRI International to officiallu launch Robominer to disrupt the mining industry.

Robominer is a teleoperated machine with technology designed to improve safety for miners, all while expanding access to minerals in difficult and harsh environments.

Part of Enaex’s mining technology innovation program, Robominer is currently in phase one of development. Robominer is armed with the ability to capture mining environments in real time through the use of 3D vision, can monitor the gas levels in underground mines, successfully detect even the slightest of drops or rises in temperation and measure the topography of any mine site.

Phase two of Robominer, targeted for 2018, will see the technology advance further and be able to manipulate objects and handle raw materials.

“Projects such as Robominer with SRI – as well as our Mine iTruck teleoperated mobile explosives manufacturing truck – will enhance mining operations and resources by taking care of our greatest asset, which is people," said Juan Andrés Errázuriz, CEO of the Enaex Group.  "Through the development of this type of project, Enaex wants to contribute in the conversion of Chile from a mineral exporting country to an exporter of innovative technology for the mining industry."

 

Robominer: the future of mine automation?

Related stories:

Mining Global Magazine - October 2017

Mining with data: How technology is disrupting the sector

Rio Tinto successfully completes 100km autonomous train journey

Unearthed Solutions heads to Vancouver with Teck and SRR Mining

 

“SRI is honored to collaborate with Enaex on important innovations in robotics that will help mine workers be safer, healthier, and more productive,” added Robert Pearlstein, vice president of corporate business and international development at SRI International.

Support for research and development was provided by in the Chilean Ministry of Mining and Corfo, the Chilean economic development agency.

Share

Featured Articles

PwC reports a tech skills shortage in the Mining industry

According to PwC's report, two-thirds of mining CEOs believing that a tech skills shortage will negatively impact the industry over the next ten years

Newmont acquires Newcrest to lead responsible mining

Mining company Newmont has announced an agreement to acquire Newcrest, to strengthen its position as a leader in safe & sustainable gold and copper mining

Mining software market to be worth $14.9 bn by 2028

Over the period of forecast, the surface mining segment is anticipated to hold the majority of the market share.

IEA highlights Latin America's abundant critical materials

Sustainability

McKinsey: Design is the answer to supply chain disruption

Supply Chain & Operations

Extending maintenance intervals with ultra-hard wearfacings

Technology