It can still require a large amount of human capital, particularly in the developing world where labor costs are low so there is less incentive to increase efficiency.
Reports generated by mine automation software allow administrators to identify productivity bottlenecks, increase accountability, and better understand return on investment.
Automation technologies are an efficient way to mitigate the effects of widespread labor shortages for positions such as haul truck driver.
In the face of falling commodity prices, many mining companies are looking for ways to dramatically reduce overhead costs while still maintaining site safety and integrity; automation may be the answer.
Risk averse mining companies are also reluctant to commit large amounts of capital to an unproven technology, preferring more often to enter the automation scene at lower, more inexpensive levels such as remote control.
From a control center in Perth, Rio Tinto employees operate autonomous mining equipment in Australia's remote but mineral rich Pilbara region.
[13] As part of the cleanup efforts and to improve safety, mine administrators turned to remote control excavator, dozers and teleremote blast hole drills to perform work on the highly unstable terrain areas.
Robotic technology helped Kennecott to reduce the steeper, more dangerous areas of the slide to allow manned vehicles access for cleanup efforts.
[14] German company EEP Elektro-Elektronik Pranjic delivered and put into operation more than 60 sets of advanced automatic control for underground coal mining for the period ~ 2006–2016.