Codelco and Normet have launched a five-year technology development program to test autonomous and remotely operated underground mining systems at the El Teniente copper mine in Chile.
The collaboration will focus on three areas: autonomous concrete transport and spraying, remotely operated scaling, and autonomous stationary breaker operations.
Normet says the technologies are designed to reduce worker exposure to hazardous underground environments while improving productivity and process continuity.
The first pilot will test autonomous concrete spraying and transport using perception systems, environment mapping, onboard AI, connectivity, and data-driven decision-making.
A second pilot will focus on remotely operated scaling using advanced mapping and extended reality technologies, while the third will test autonomous stationary breakers to support continuous rock flow.
Development work will be carried out at Normet’s Technology Center in Pirkkala, Finland, before the systems are piloted under production conditions at El Teniente.
Codelco Corporate Innovation Director Gonzalo Ramírez says the program is aimed at improving safety and operational efficiency as underground mining conditions become more complex.
El Teniente is one of Codelco’s major copper operations and has increasingly adopted automation, AI, and remote technologies across its underground mining processes.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Main image: Normet
