Sandvik and Rio Tinto Partner to Advance Autonomous Surface Drilling Technology in Pilbara
Sandvik and Rio Tinto Join Forces to Accelerate Autonomous Open-Pit Drilling
Sandvik and Rio Tinto have signed a joint development agreement aimed at integrating Sandvik’s i-series surface drill rigs with Rio Tinto’s proprietary Autonomous Drilling System (ADS), marking a significant step forward in the evolution of autonomous mining technology.
The collaboration combines Sandvik’s AutoMine® automation platform with Rio Tinto’s extensive expertise in remote autonomous operations to create an advanced solution for open-pit drilling.
The partnership is expected to enhance safety, productivity, and operational efficiency across large-scale mining operations.
Initially, the project will focus on improving autonomous open-pit drilling capabilities. Over the longer term, the companies aim to enable remote operation of multiple drill rigs across multiple mine sites from Rio Tinto’s Perth Operations Centre in Western Australia.
Development work and on-rig testing will begin at Sandvik’s Test Pit facility in Finland before progressing to field trials at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia.
Petri Virrankoski, President of Surface Drilling at Sandvik, highlighted the strategic value of the partnership:
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to improving safety and productivity through open, interoperable automation.
Building on AutoMine® and our i-series platform, we are proud to strengthen our long-standing relationship with Rio Tinto and support the continued advancement of autonomous drilling in the demanding conditions of the Pilbara.”
Rio Tinto’s Perth Operations Centre already oversees one of the world’s largest autonomous mining networks, managing fleets of autonomous trucks, trains, and drill rigs across its iron ore operations.
The company’s Gudai-Darri mine is among the most technologically advanced sites in the sector, operating with a fully autonomous mobile fleet.
By combining Sandvik’s leading automation technologies with Rio Tinto’s operational experience, the partnership aims to establish new industry benchmarks for autonomous drilling, delivering greater safety, efficiency, and scalability for the future of mining.
