Choosing the Right Navigation for Autonomy in Mining

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Published on:

29 September 2026

Article Summary

GNSS-only infrastructure in mining is no longer sufficient due to frequent signal blockages near pit walls and an inability to capture real-time 3D vehicle dynamics, necessitating the adoption of high-performance Inertial Navigation Systems (INS).
Advanced Navigation’s Certus GNSS/INS is optimized for manned Heavy Mining Equipment (HME), providing continuous location data, dig-unit optimization, and predictive maintenance capabilities.
For autonomous fleets, the Certus Evo delivers precision navigation, maintaining strict lane integrity and enabling safe emergency stops during prolonged satellite outages.

There is nothing more frustrating than watching your shift’s production targets tank and costs spike simply because a dropped satellite signal in the deep pit forced your trucks to grind to a halt.

For decades, the mining sector has relied heavily on standard GNSS paired with basic collision avoidance systems to manage pit traffic and track valuable assets.

While this approach has served as a foundational layer for safety and dispatch, the expansion toward complex Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS) and data-driven Fleet Management Systems (FMS) is exposing the limitations of GNSS-only infrastructure.

As the push for further autonomy in mining accelerates, operators are realizing that when heavy machinery operates in deep pits, near pit walls, or beneath heavy canopy, satellite signals are frequently disrupted, reflected, or interrupted.

By bridging signal dead zones with advanced inertial sensors, Advanced Navigation’s Certus and Certus Evo overcomes the frustration of downtime, ensuring your fleet maintains continuous, reliable production.

However, determining which system to deploy depends on the application: crewed fleet management versus fully autonomous haulage.

Navigation for Fleet Management Systems (FMS)

For HME and general pit operations, visibility is everything. Fleet managers and operations supervisors require continuous, uninterrupted vehicle location data to understand fleet movement, feed precise coordinates into the broader AHS ecosystem, and manage traffic effectively.

Key benefits of Certus for FMS:

Intelligent dispatch & traffic management: Operators can execute dispatching and route coordination with confidence enabling rapid haulage route optimization.
Dig-unit optimization: Precise orientation and position data feed directly into the FMS to ensure diggers and haulers align perfectly, minimizing cycle times.
Pre-emptive maintenance: By tracking 3D vehicle dynamics, fleet managers can monitor structural stress, identify rough haul roads causing excessive vibration, and schedule maintenance before manned HME experiences failure.

Navigation for Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS)

Autonomous trucks inherently demand a much higher tier of navigation performance. When a truck operates near high walls where GNSS signals are frequently blocked, there is a significantly reduced margin for error.

Key benefits of Certus Evo for AHS:

Extended dead reckoning: Certus Evo maintains accurate spatial awareness far longer than standard MEMS during prolonged GNSS outages. This ensures a truck navigating deep pit walls won’t trigger a sudden exception stop in the middle of a haul road, minimizing fleet bottlenecks and protecting your tons-per-hour targets.
Safety-critical maneuvering: If communications or satellite links are severed, the truck must rapidly decide how to react. Certus Evo’s accuracy allows the AHS to either safely drop to a reduced operational speed or execute a controlled emergency stop (e-stop) from top speed without deviating from its lane.

Choosing the Right INS for the Job

Each INS is engineered to solve a specific operational challenge within the pit. The table below outlines how the features of Certus and Certus Evo align with their intended mining applications.

Feature	Certus	Certus Evo
Primary Mining Applications	Continuous vehicle tracking, traffic coordination, dig-unit optimization, and predictive maintenance.	High-stakes, driverless haul truck navigation requiring safety and high-integrity positioning.
Roll & Pitch Accuracy	Ideal for monitoring vehicle dynamics, identifying rough haul roads, and assessing HME health.	Ultra-high precision needed to keep massive autonomous haulers perfectly centered on tight pit ramps.
Gyroscope Bias Instability	Provides excellent short-to-medium-term stability for standard operational tracking.	FOG-like performance; critical for preventing drift during extended satellite outages near high walls.
GNSS Interruption Protocol	Triggers location update alerts; allows human operators or central FMS to manage the tracking gap safely.	Maintains precise vehicle state to safely transition the truck to reduced speeds or perform an emergency stop.

The Future of Autonomy in Mining

Moving away from GNSS-only infrastructure is a prerequisite for the modern, automated mine.

Mining operations can safely scale their autonomy in mining programs by leveraging Advanced Navigation’s sophisticated inertial solutions.

Deploying Certus across the crewed fleet ensures total pit visibility and optimized maintenance, while equipping heavy autonomous assets with Certus Evo ensures the performance required to move more dirt, keeping operations running securely, efficiently, and around the clock.

To learn more about integrating high-performance inertial navigation into your fleet, contact Advanced Navigation today for a technical consultation or operational enquiry.

FAQs

Can Certus and Certus Evo integrate directly with our existing legacy FMS and AHS infrastructure?

Yes, both systems feature extensive multi-protocol support (including standard NMEA and CANopen protocols) and multiple communication interfaces like Ethernet and CAN bus for ease of integration with industry-standard mining platforms.

How do these systems maintain data accuracy under the heavy shock and vibrations typical of mining equipment?

Both units are ruggedized to IP67 and MIL-STD-810G standards and feature an advanced fusion algorithm that filters out environmental noise and mechanical vibrations. This ensures stable, highly reliable vehicle dynamics data even under the harshest pit conditions.