By SandvikLearning Objectives
- Understand why underground automation is harder than surface autonomy
- Understand what AutoMine automates below ground
- Evaluate underground automation's safety and productivity case
What Is Sandvik AutoMine?
Sandvik is a Swedish high-tech engineering group, and AutoMine is its leading platform for underground mining automation — the counterpart to the surface autonomous haulage of Caterpillar and Komatsu, but in a much harder environment. Underground, there is no GPS, space is tight, visibility is poor, and the setting is genuinely hazardous. AutoMine automates the key underground machines — loaders, trucks, and drill rigs — using 3D perception, onboard sensing, and fleet coordination to navigate tunnels, load and haul ore, and drill, either autonomously or under remote supervision from a safe control room.
The case for underground automation is unusually strong on safety: it removes people from one of the most dangerous workplaces in industry, while also enabling more consistent, productive operation (machines can keep working through blasting cycles and shift changes). In 2025 Sandvik launched AutoMine Aura, described as the biggest upgrade to the platform in two decades, along with an AutoMine Surface Fleet offering that extends its reach above ground. Sandvik is a genuine AI-and-automation vendor; the technology is mature for underground operations, and its adoption tracks mining capital spending and the industry's push to automate — with the honest note that underground automation, like all mining autonomy, is deployed in a structured, access-controlled setting rather than an open environment.
💡Key Concept
Why underground is harder: Surface autonomy leans on GPS and open sightlines. Underground has neither — tight tunnels, no satellite positioning, poor visibility. AutoMine relies on onboard 3D perception and sensing to navigate, which is what makes underground automation a distinct, harder problem.
📝Note
AutoMine's place in the map: Caterpillar Command and Komatsu FrontRunner lead autonomous haulage in open-pit (surface) mines; Sandvik AutoMine is the leader underground. Together they cover the two very different environments of modern mining.
✅Tip
Visit Sandvik AutoMine: sandvik.com — enterprise mining automation; Sandvik trades as an ADR (SDVKY) and in Stockholm (SAND).
Pricing
AutoMine is enterprise mining technology sold with Sandvik equipment and services, priced by fleet and deployment rather than published rates.
- Autonomous loaders, trucks, drills
- 3D perception in tunnels
- Remote control-room supervision
- Latest platform release
- Surface fleet extension
- Equipment and support
Core Features
Underground Autonomy
Automates loaders, trucks, and drill rigs in the GPS-denied, confined underground environment using onboard 3D perception.
Remote Supervision
Lets operators run machines from a safe control room rather than inside the hazardous working area.
Fleet Coordination
Coordinates underground machines for consistent, productive operation through blasting cycles and shift changes.
AutoMine Aura (2025)
The biggest platform upgrade in two decades, plus an AutoMine Surface Fleet offering extending above ground.
Strengths
- Underground leader — the counterpart to surface haulage autonomy
- Strong safety case — removes people from a hazardous workplace
- Handles a harder environment — GPS-denied, confined tunnels
- Consistent productivity — machines work through cycles and shifts
- Fresh 2025 release — AutoMine Aura, the biggest upgrade in 20 years
Limitations and Considerations
- Structured environment — deployed in controlled underground operations
- Large capital commitment — automation is a major investment
- Tracks mining capex — adoption follows mining investment
- Site-specific setup — each mine needs configuration
- Change management — underground operations and roles shift
Best Use Cases
| Use Case | Why AutoMine Fits | Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Underground automation | Autonomy in GPS-denied tunnels | Structured mine environment |
| Underground safety | Removes people from hazardous areas | Large capital commitment |
| Consistent underground output | Works through blasting and shifts | Site-specific setup |
| Mixed underground fleets | Loaders, trucks, and drills | Tracks mining capex |
Key Takeaways
- Sandvik AutoMine is the leading platform for underground mining automation — loaders, trucks, and drills
- Underground is a harder problem than surface autonomy: no GPS, confined tunnels, poor visibility, handled with onboard 3D perception
- It is the underground counterpart to Caterpillar Command and Komatsu FrontRunner's surface haulage leadership
- Its 2025 AutoMine Aura release was the biggest upgrade in two decades, plus a surface fleet extension
- The safety case is strong — removing people from a hazardous workplace — with adoption tracking mining investment
