Issues in underground hard rock mining automation

This paper presents an overview of the current status of mining automation technologies for underground hard rock mines in Canada and discusses key issues related to the implementation and application of these technologies. The evolution of automation approaches the brink of a new operational concept, the tele-operated mine, with radical implications for future improvements in safety, productivity and economics. The tele-operated mine should facilitate a new production management rationale for mining. This may, for example, parallel the manufacturing industry with new management concepts for mining such as lean mining, aiming to minimize throughput time, stockpiles, wastage and rework. The paper will discuss the cycles of technology related to automation evolution and technological breakthroughs. It will demonstrate that the present level of automation technology in Canadian operations lies well within a component of a technology cycle called the "era of incremental change". The paper concludes by discussing the issues and requirements for the implementation of mining automation technologies in order to optimize the potential offered by future tele-operation in underground hard rock mines.