Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has launched AutoMine for Underground Drills, a tele-remote solution designed for mining operations.
The new solution allows mining operators to control and supervise multiple automated Sandvik underground drills remotely and simultaneously.
This helps to increase safety, efficiency and overall productivity in mining operations, the company said.
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions underground automation product line manager Jouni Koppanen said: “Sandvik’s holistic approach to integrate drills, loaders and trucks into the AutoMine system will set a new standard for underground mining efficiency.
“AutoMine for Underground Drills is another milestone in our commitment to revolutionising out customers’ mining operations. This tele-remote system redefines underground drilling autonomy and safety standards.”
Made available for Sandvik longhole drills i-series machines, the new system offers three levels of teleremote operations, notably single drill, drill fleet and machine fleet.
Operators will have an option to choose operating from an AutoMine chair or console station. This is based on offering the level needed for their operational requirements.
The new system features ring-to-ring tramming capabilities to enable seamless coordination and control of drills, loaders and trucks that are operating in the same area.
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions longhole production drilling product manager Sami Anttila said: “We have developed this system to offer our customers a deeper integration and cooperation in between the underground drills, the loading and hauling machines and especially the AutoMine environment.
“This means added value through improvements in machine and fleet flexible utilisation in remote operation.”
The AutoMine also features an enhanced Access Protector System to block personnel from entering the machine area while it is operating in remote mode or automation mode.
Furthermore, the system features an advanced traffic management system to allow operators to easily control the traffic flow of multi-machine operations.
Recently, Sandvik was selected by Byrnecut to supply automated loaders, underground drills and rock tools for the Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia.
