Best Practices

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

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.

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.

The autonomous heavy mobile equipment industry has passed the technology question: large-scale mines now purchase proven autonomy at scale, while quarries, heavy civil and construction run new pilots to validate integration, regulation, and ROI models.

Autonomous mining is delivering on its safety promise with zero lost-time injuries across 90 million miles driven. But what makes the industry truly remarkable is its transparency about learning moments. From rain-slicked collisions at Jimblebar to wifi dropouts at Christmas Creek, every minor incident becomes a valuable lesson. This isn't a story about robots failing - it's about an industry mature enough to learn in public, turning awkward moments into safety advances that