Sandvik and global mining major Rio Tinto have announced a new partnership aimed at advancing autonomous surface drilling in open-pit mining operations. The collaboration will focus on integrating Sandvik’s i-series surface drill rigs with Rio Tinto’s Autonomous Drilling System (Rio Tinto ADS™), combining the strengths of both companies to enhance safety, productivity and operational efficiency.
The agreement brings together Rio Tinto’s extensive experience in autonomous drilling and remote operations with Sandvik’s AutoMine® automation platform. Initially, the joint development program will target support drilling activities in open-pit environments, with the longer-term goal of enabling fully interoperable, multi-rig and multi-site autonomous operations.
Remote Multi-Rig Operations from Perth
A key objective of the partnership is to enable remote control of multiple drill rigs across multiple mine sites from Rio Tinto’s Operations Centre in Perth, Western Australia. Engineers from both companies will co-develop the necessary interoperability systems and autonomous capabilities to ensure seamless communication between Sandvik’s drill rigs and Rio Tinto’s ADS™ platform.
The program will include comprehensive field trials designed to validate performance against defined production targets and operational benchmarks. These trials are expected to demonstrate improvements in drilling precision, equipment utilisation and operator safety.
Phased Development and Testing
The project will begin with development and on-rig testing at the Sandvik Test Pit in Finland, where engineers will validate system integration and autonomous functions under controlled conditions. Following successful initial trials, the technology will be deployed for site-based testing at Rio Tinto’s operations in Western Australia, including mines operating in the challenging conditions of the Pilbara region.
Petri Virrankoski, President of Surface Drilling at Sandvik, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to open and interoperable automation systems in mining.
“This joint development reflects Sandvik’s commitment to improving safety and productivity through open, interoperable automation,” Virrankoski said. “Building on AutoMine® and our i-series platform, we are proud to extend our long-standing relationship with Rio Tinto and support the continued development of autonomous drilling for demanding Pilbara conditions.”
Building on a Strong Autonomous Track Record
Rio Tinto is widely recognised as a leader in mining automation, having pioneered large-scale autonomous haulage, drilling and rail operations. The company remotely monitors and controls drills, trucks and trains from its Perth Operations Centre, a model that has been successfully implemented across its iron ore operations.
Sites such as Gudai-Darri in Western Australia showcase Rio Tinto’s integrated digital operations model, combining an autonomous mobile fleet with advanced data analytics and centralised control systems. The new partnership with Sandvik is expected to further strengthen this approach by improving drill fleet compatibility and enabling more flexible deployment of autonomous equipment.
Advancing the Future of Open-Pit Mining
By aligning Sandvik’s drilling technology with Rio Tinto’s established autonomous ecosystem, the companies aim to accelerate the next phase of open-pit mining automation. Beyond productivity gains, the initiative is expected to enhance workforce safety by reducing the need for personnel to be physically present in high-risk drilling environments.
As mining companies continue to pursue digital transformation and automation strategies, partnerships such as this highlight the industry’s focus on interoperability, scalability and remote operations as key enablers of future growth.