ARLYX Technologies has launched what it says is the first complete, fully electric autonomous solution purpose-built for material handling in underground mines.
The ARLYX utility vehicle and AutoLatch module handle transport, loading, and unloading of up to 5,000 kg remotely and without interruption, even during blasting periods.
Post-blast ventilation represents one of the most significant productivity losses in underground mining. ARLYX turns these interruptions into working hours by delivering consumables (rock bolts, pipes, concrete) while workers are evacuated. Materials are in place when crews return.
By shifting material handling to blasting periods, ARLYX frees up the ramp during production shifts, allowing ore trucks to move without slowdown. The result, the company says, is one additional ore load per day, worth up to C$27M in estimated annual gains.
“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,” ARLYX Technologies CEO Michael Simard said in a news release.
As extraction goes deeper and conditions grow more demanding, underground mine automation reduces miners’ exposure to on-site hazards. An ARLYX autonomous vehicle helps reduce incidents and production downtime, as well as addressing labour shortages, as a single teleoperator can oversee up to ten ARLYX vehicles simultaneously.
“We are proud to make the zero-entry mine a reality—one where technology takes the risks, not people,” Simard said.
As the price of diesel fuel continues to rise, electric vehicles offer a clear economic advantage. Its zero emissions reduce the need for underground ventilation, the largest operating expense in a mine. Its simplified mechanics reduce maintenance needs while supporting decarbonization goals.
ARLYX is a complete solution, integrating seamlessly into existing mine infrastructure (LTE, 5G, WiFi, or radio) in a fully agnostic manner. From connectivity and software to on-the-ground support, the solution is backed by specialists in both robotics and IoT.
Multiple patents are pending for ARLYX’s autonomous transport solution, whose modular architecture is designed to evolve. The engineering team has begun work on additional modules: fire suppression, dust control, and ore transport.
“Our vehicle wasn’t retrofitted to be mining-ready. It is designed for mines, their constraints and their realities,” Simard said.
Developed over two years in Quebec and tested under real conditions at a Tier 1 mine, the innovation will be first showcased at Mining Transformed May 25–27 in Sudbury, Ontario.
