All Articles

Mining autonomy has long been limited to clean, uniform fleets—but that’s changing. This article explores how retrofit driving robots, modular autonomy layers, and standards like ISO 23725 are opening the door to practical, scalable autonomy across mixed fleets and brownfield operations.

Where's the right balance between sensing intelligence and operational constraint? A fresh perspective on autonomous system design.

CATL and EACON’s partnership could mark a turning point for mining. With 2,000+ electric autonomous trucks already running, the question now is whether open standards can keep up—and shape a flexible, interoperable future for electrified autonomy.

Should you build everything yourself — or just what’s missing? Polymath’s Stefan Seltz-Axmacher shares hard-won lessons on vertical vs. horizontal integration, with practical advice for mining autonomy leaders.

The real challenge in autonomous mining isn't the technology—it's what happens when autonomous trucks need to share space with human operators. Co-mingling is the operational reality for decades to come, and it's far more complex than most realize.

Level 9 requires automatic intervention controls that can brake equipment when collision risks are detected. But what does that mean in a fully autonomous operation where there's no operator to warn? We explore how Level 9 functions as an independent safety layer, the role of ISO 21815 in open architectures, and why redundant safety systems matter even when sophisticated AI is driving the truck.

Komatsu and Applied Intuition are reshaping mining autonomy with onboard intelligence, software-defined vehicles, and EMESRT Level 9 safety compliance. Will this progress drive openness—or create closed ecosystems? Explore what this means for the future of mining.

Scania contributes to OpenAutonomy.com with insights on building interoperable, vendor-neutral solutions for autonomous mining. Their perspective emphasizes open ecosystems, customer-first integration, and transparent collaboration to accelerate safe, sustainable, and industry-wide innovation in autonomous transport.

Epiroc's September 2024 rebranding of ASI Mining's Mobius to LinkOA signals more than corporate integration—it's a major technology provider's commitment to OEM-agnostic mining automation. With successful deployment at Hancock Iron Ore proving mixed fleet interoperability at scale, LinkOA demonstrates that Open Autonomy has moved from concept to commercial reality.

The September 2025 issue of International Mining Magazine features Welcome to OpenAutonomy.com , underscoring the mining industry’s shift toward open, interoperable autonomy and the growing need for vendor-neutral knowledge resources.

As mining accelerates autonomous adoption, a key question arises: how much OEM cooperation is needed to retrofit fleets? While modern equipment often requires minimal OEM input, real barriers stem from proprietary protocols and commercial interests. The tension between closed-stack control and open innovation defines the industry's challenge in achieving scalable, interoperable autonomy.

Komatsu and Pronto bring Smart Quarry autonomy to smaller operations — a major step forward. The bigger question: will the industry insist on true openness and interoperability?