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Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles are machines capable of sensing their environment and operating with reduced or no human intervention, using a combination of sensors, cameras, radar, GPS and onboard computing systems. In industrial settings such as mining, autonomous vehicles include driverless trucks, loaders and drilling equipment that can navigate predefined routes or adapt to changing site conditions. The technology aims to improve safety by removing workers from hazardous zones, while also enhancing operational efficiency, reducing downtime and lowering costs associated with human error and fatigue. Mining companies in South Africa and further afield have been exploring autonomous vehicle deployment as part of wider mechanisation and digitalisation strategies, often supported by training providers that use simulation, virtual reality and augmented reality to prepare workers for these systems. Adoption remains uneven across the sector, constrained by high capital costs, infrastructure requirements and the need for a skilled workforce capable of managing and maintaining automated fleets. Regulatory bodies and training authorities, including the Mining Qualifications Authority, have taken an interest in ensuring that workforce development keeps pace with the technology's rollout. Beyond mining, autonomous vehicles are being trialled and deployed in logistics, agriculture and passenger transport globally, though full autonomy in public road use remains limited to specific jurisdictions and use cases. The technology is considered part of the broader Fourth Industrial Revolution wave reshaping heavy industry. Its maturity varies significantly by application, with closed-site industrial use generally more advanced than open-road passenger applications.

Autonomous Vehicles News


Magazine cover image
Miners face new cyber threats as operations become increasingly digital
31st July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The mining industry’s increasing adoption of digital infrastructure and operational technology systems to support autonomous vehicles, drilling systems and remotely controlled equipment is giving... 


Magazine cover image
Miners face new cyber threats as operations become increasingly digital
31st July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The mining industry’s increasing adoption of digital infrastructure and operational technology systems to support autonomous vehicles, drilling systems and remotely controlled equipment is giving... 


CiDi equipment
China's CiDi eyes overseas sales of autonomous mining machines this year
24th July 2026 By: Reuters

CiDi, the Hong Kong-listed Chinese autonomous mining equipment maker, expects overseas deployments to grow this year as it expands beyond China, CE Albert Hu told Reuters. CiDi has equipped... 


Automated robot Spot
Mariana Minerals rolls out automated inspection robot Spot at Copper One
23rd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Further to Mariana Minerals' world's only autonomy-first mine and refinery strategy, the company is implementing Boston Dynamics' quadruped robot, Spot, at its Copper One facility near Moab, in... 


Creamer Media mine technology webinar speakers
Panel agrees mine technologies are immense ‘winning’ determinators of the present and future
16th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The single-biggest opportunity for modern mining companies to become sustainable and predictive is through technology, explosives manufacturer BME GM Nishen Haripersad told attendees of a webinar... 


Investing in competence despite fuel price volatility
Investing in competence despite fuel price volatility
14th July 2026

By: Jacques Farmer - MD at PRISMA Training Solutions  In the mining industry, the real instability often lies not underground, but in global market conditions. A volatile mix of geopolitical... 


Samsung Celebrated for Transformative Tech by Consumer Technology Association
Samsung Celebrated for Transformative Tech by Consumer Technology Association
19th December 2025

Samsung Electronics has announced that its latest line-up of products and services have been recognised by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® with multiple CES® 2026 Innovation Awards. This... 


6G subscriptions to reach 180m by 2031
5th December 2025 By: Natasha Odendaal

Global 6G subscriptions are forecast to reach 180-million by the end of 2031, excluding the early adoption of AI-enabled Internet of Things devices such as autonomous vehicles, smart glasses and... 


Innovation at the core of XCMG Green Summit 2025
Innovation at the core of XCMG Green Summit 2025
24th October 2025

The XCMG Green Summit 2025, held in Xuzhou and Hulunbuir, in China, brought together mining industry leaders from across the world to experience first-hand how innovation and sustainability are... 


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