AutoMine Core from Sandvik AB - autonomous drilling that learns the route
24.06.2026 - 04:26:27 | ad-hoc-news.de
Reviewed: ad hoc news Software & Services desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-24, 04:25. Details in the imprint.
AutoMine Core from Sandvik AB sits in a glass-walled control room, where an operator watches loaders and trucks crawl through a dusty drift on bright screens instead of feeling the heat underground. One joystick nudge, several hundred meters of rock start moving.
What AutoMine Core does
At its heart, AutoMine Core is Sandvik's automation and traffic control platform for underground loaders and trucks, replacing line-of-sight radio remote control with fully supervised autonomous operation over a fixed network. It handles navigation, obstacle detection and automatic stops while the machine keeps running in production cycles.
The system builds and stores routes in a digital mine map so that machines repeat loading and hauling patterns with centimeter-level consistency, lap after lap. That repeatability matters when you run night shifts with only a handful of people above ground.
How it changes daily work
In a mine that has deployed AutoMine Core, the morning commute for operators changes from climbing into a vibrating cab to walking into an air-conditioned room with banks of monitors. The smell of exhaust disappears, replaced by the quiet hum of servers and radio equipment.
From that room, one operator can supervise several loaders or trucks, stepping in only when the system requests a decision or when a machine encounters a blocked path. That shift from hands-on driving to fleet supervision is exactly what Sandvik's automation director, Mats Eriksson, has been advocating for years in industry talks.
Background on Sandvik AB shares
AutoMine Core is one pillar of Sandvik's push into digital mining, which long-term investors follow closely.
Key components and setup
Technically, AutoMine Core combines vehicle-mounted control modules, laser or radar-based sensing, and a fixed underground communications network that ties each machine to the control room. The system runs on Sandvik servers that store the 3D mine map and all route profiles.
Commissioning starts with scanning drifts and loading bays, then teaching the machine a reference run that the software turns into a safe, repeatable path. That first mapping drive still needs a skilled operator, but once it is logged, the shift to autonomy speeds up.
Safety under the surface
Safety is not a side feature in AutoMine Core but baked into its logic with automatic zone control, speed limits and collision-avoidance rules. If a person or vehicle enters a protected area, the system slows and then stops the autonomous unit until the zone is clear again.
That arrangement lets mines keep people out of recently blasted areas or unstable ground while loaders still muck out broken rock. For crews that have seen close calls underground, the psychological relief of fewer exposed hours can be as important as the production gain.
Productivity and fleet impact
Because autonomous machines can run in more consistent cycles and do not need breaks in the same way as human operators, AutoMine Core often unlocks more effective hours per day from the same hardware. Mines can extend production deeper into the night without additional staffing.
The system also makes it easier to tune speeds, loading times and dump sequences based on logged data rather than gut feeling. Operations managers can compare runs from different shifts and adjust parameters centrally instead of coaching each individual operator.
Where it still demands work
AutoMine Core is not a plug-and-play app. Mines often need to upgrade communications infrastructure, add redundant network paths and train operators to think like fleet supervisors rather than drivers. That change can cause friction in crews used to full control.
Unexpected conditions such as rockfalls, water ingress or equipment parked in tight drifts still trigger stops and manual intervention. Even with autonomous routes, the mine needs disciplined housekeeping to keep those paths clear for the software to deliver steady cycles.
Cost, licensing and support
Sandvik generally sells AutoMine Core as a software and services package tied to a specific fleet size, with upfront configuration and ongoing support fees. Exact pricing depends on mine size, number of machines and how deep the integration with other systems runs.
For smaller operations, that bill can look steep at first glance, but some customers report payback through higher utilization of existing loaders and trucks, plus lower accident-related downtime. Those economics are typically tracked over several years rather than a single quarter.
Who AutoMine Core targets
The primary target group for AutoMine Core is underground hard-rock mines with ramp access, especially those already running Sandvik loaders and trucks. Brownfield sites with existing fleets can add the automation platform to extend equipment life and output.
Greenfield projects, on the other hand, sometimes design their drifts, passing bays and communications layout from day one with autonomy in mind. In those cases, Sandvik's engineers work alongside the mine's planners in the early design phase.
Sandvik AB and its stock
For Sandvik AB, AutoMine Core is a strategic part of its shift from pure hardware supplier to integrated equipment and software provider in mining and rock excavation. Sandvik shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under ISIN SE0000667891, where automation news is watched closely by institutional investors.
Key facts on AutoMine Core
- Product: AutoMine Core
- Manufacturer: Sandvik AB
- Category: Software and automation suite for underground mining fleets
- Launch: Rolling deployments since the 2010s, with continuous feature updates
- RRP / Price: Project-based software and services pricing, typically quoted in local currency
- Availability: Offered globally through Sandvik mining and rock solutions sales channels
- Target group: Underground mines operating Sandvik loaders and trucks seeking higher automation and safety
- Highlight / USP: Centralized control of multiple autonomous machines in a mapped underground environment
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.
