Robotics in Mining

• Main Authors: Marshall, Joshua, Bonchis, Adrian, Nebot, Eduardo, Scheding, Steve
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2017
• Subjects: Robotics in Mining; Robotic Dozing; Excavation; Robotic Mapping; Surveying; Robotic Drilling; Explosives Handling; Field Roboticists; Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1974/22979; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32552-1_59

Springer Handbook of Robotics pp 1549-1576 This chapter presents an overview of the state of the art in mining robotics, from surface to underground applications, and beyond. Mining is the practice of extracting resources for utilitarian purposes. Today, the international business of mining is a heavily mechanized industry that exploits the use of large diesel and electric equipment. These machines must operate in harsh, dynamic, and uncertain environments such as, for example, in the high arctic, in extreme desert climates, and in deep underground tunnel networks where it can be very hot and humid. Applications of robotics in mining are broad and include robotic dozing, excavation, and haulage, robotic mapping and surveying, as well as robotic drilling and explosives handling. This chapter describes how many of these applications involve unique technical challenges for field roboticists. However, there are compelling reasons to advance the discipline of mining robotics, which include not only a desire on the part of miners to improve productivity, safety, and lower costs, but also out of a need to meet product demands by accessing orebodies situated in increasingly challenging conditions.