Epiroc Advances Autonomous Mining with Seamless Underground-to-Surface Truck Operations

3D LiDAR technology enables Deep Automation trucks to navigate, detect obstacles and operate across underground and surface environments.  www.epiroc.com Epiroc has expanded its Deep Automation portfolio with a technology that allows autonomous underground mine trucks to operate in surface environments. This autonomous haulage solution integrates 3D LiDAR technology for localization, mapping, and obstacle detection to facilitate uninterrupted material transport across the mining sector. 3D LiDAR Localization and Environmental Mapping Surface environments present distinct operational challenges compared to underground mining, primarily due to fewer fixed positioning references and variable weather conditions. By replacing traditional 2D sensors with a 3D LiDAR system, the autonomous trucks generate continuous volumetric maps for localization and obstacle detection. Robert Lundh, Automation Specialist at the Epiroc Underground division, stated that this sensor transition improves environmental awareness and yields more reliable spatial positioning. This mechanism allows trucks to navigate autonomously through complete hauling and dumping cycles, eliminating the need for manual handover during the underground-to-surface transition. Scalable Autonomous Haulage and Safety Integration The deployment of 3D LiDAR localization builds upon prior Epiroc automation milestones, including the implementation of 3D ramp visualization and the automation rollout for the Minetruck MT65 S. According to Johannes Mutamba, Global Product Manager for Deep Automation Trucks at Epiroc, trucks serve as the initial application for this technology because their operating cycles span long distances from subterranean production areas to surface dumping locations. Mutamba noted that utilizing a unified system for both underground and surface automated hauling establishes a technological architecture that can be scaled to other machine types in the future. Industry Demonstration at Epiroc World Expo 2026 A live demonstration of the technology was held in June 2026 at the Epiroc World Expo. During the event, an autonomous battery-electric mine truck automatically detected and stopped for physical obstacles placed in its path, validating the system's built-in safety capabilities. The multi-day expo gathered mining industry professionals to address structural sector challenges, including deeper ore deposits, declining ore grades, and escalating demands for operational safety, sustainability, and efficiency. Additional Context: This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement In the autonomous mine haulage market, systems managing the transition between underground and surface environments are evaluated based on sensor redundancy and spatial handover capabilities. Competitors such as Sandvik offer the AutoMine for Trucks system, which utilizes dedicated handover technology to switch between underground wall-referencing and surface navigation modes. While conventional underground automation relies on 2D laser scanners, surface navigation requires advanced sensor arrays to compensate for the lack of tunnel wall references. Epiroc’s Deep Automation system addresses this benchmark by integrating 3D LiDAR to construct a continuous volumetric map, enabling the vehicle to maintain accurate localization regardless of lighting conditions or surface weather variables, similar to the multi-sensor fusion architectures utilized in competing autonomous underground haulage platforms. Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI. www.epiroc.com Powered by Induportals Media Publishing