Quebec-headquartered autonomous utility vehicle designer ARLYX, has launched what it says is the first fully autonomous solution designed for materials handling in underground mines.

Two years in development and tested in real-world conditions at a Tier 1 mine, the utility vehicle and AutoLatch module handle transport, loading, and unloading of up to 4,500kg remotely and without interruption, including during blast periods.

ARLYX says post-blast ventilation has historically represented one of the most significant productivity losses in underground mining, but states its new autonomous solution utilises this time to deliver consumables — rock bolts, pipes, concrete, and more — while workers are evacuated. 

ARLYX states that by shifting materials handling to blasting periods, the ramp is freed  up during production shifts, allowing ore trucks to move without slowing down. 

It says the result in testing has been one additional ore load per day, worth up to USD27M in estimated annual gains.

Michael Simard, founder and CEO of ARLYX, says: “Ramp congestion is the bottleneck of every underground mine. Every day, hours and thousands of dollars are left on the table. ARLYX is the first to tackle the problem at its source by clearing the ramp.”

Simard adds that the vehicle has not been retrofitted for mining applications, but instead was designed for “mines, their constraints and their realities”.

ARLYX adds its autonomous vehicles helps reduce incidents and production downtime, as well as addressing labour shortages with a single teleoperator able to oversee up to 10 vehicles simultaneously.

The ARLYX autonomous solution integrates into existing mine infrastructure (LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi, or radio) in a fully agnostic manner.