Navigating MEMS vs. FOG in Mining Operations

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Published on:

13 October 2026

Article Summary

Relying solely on GNSS leaves mining fleets exposed to costly downtime and safety risks.
Rugged Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) are ideal for surface haulage and support fleets, while Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG) provide the north-seeking capabilities needed for underground operations.
For mines that transition from open-pit to underground, sourcing both MEMS and FOG technologies from one reliable provider streamlines fleet management and ensures consistent navigation accuracy to reduce downtime.

In mining, every decision you make comes down to safety, efficiency, and continuous production.

However, when it comes to navigation technology, many operations are still running on legacy systems, relying solely on vulnerable GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) infrastructure, or using outdated fluid-filled inclinometers.

The status quo works, until it doesn’t.

Typically, the catalyst for upgrading a mine’s navigation technology is a safety incident caused by a GNSS dropout, an aggressive push toward cost reduction, or the transition to automated fleets where precise positioning is required. When a haul truck loses its positioning data, the entire autonomous fleet may be forced to halt for safety, resulting in compounding production losses for every minute of downtime.

Bridging these GNSS gaps requires an INS (Inertial Navigation System). However, the debate shouldn’t be about whether MEMS or FOG are inherently “better.”

Instead, it is about aligning the exact capabilities of the technology with the specific realities of the mining environment.

Here is how to match the right navigation technology to your operational needs.

MEMS: Rugged Reliability for Surface Operations

MEMS technology utilizes accelerometers and gyroscopes to maintain positioning when satellite signals drop.

While MEMS systems are widely praised for their low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C), their true value in a mining context is their ruggedness.

A high-quality MEMS INS, such as Advanced Navigation’s Certus or Certus Evo, is built to survive the extreme environment of a surface mine, including vibrations and the force of industrial pressure washers. Advanced Navigation puts its products through an intensive temperature calibration process to ensure consistent data delivery in harsh environments.

MEMS systems are the ideal fit for surface operations where GNSS outages are temporary or less degraded. This could include surface haulage for optimizing haulage routes and cycle times in open-pit mines to increase total tonnage moved. A MEMS can also support fleets by providing reliable positioning for water trucks and lube trucks.

For these surface applications, the priority is often durability over raw, prolonged inertial navigation accuracy. The MEMS system bridges the brief gaps, keeps the fleet moving, and survives the extreme environment.

FOG: Precision and North-Seeking for the Underground

While MEMS offers ruggedness, Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG) provide superior accuracy and extended dead-reckoning capabilities without GNSS.

The tipping point where an operation must transition from MEMS to FOG is the move underground where GNSS is unavailable. FOG units possess north-seeking capabilities, making them suitable for deep underground environments where GNSS is not available. Furthermore, if surface operations experience long GNSS outages (or environmental factors such as ionospheric scintillation), a FOG becomes necessary to maintain underground operations.

FOGs are ideal for haulage trucks, loaders, and Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) vehicles operating underground, or for high-accuracy production drill rigs that require accurate positioning.

When assessing inertial navigation system accuracy, FOGs provide the precision required to enable fleet management and tracking underground. This supports your accurate chain of custody and reconciliation, helping to verify that ore is dumped in the correct locations.

The Strategic Value of a Unified Fleet Strategy

As a mine matures, it can expand from an open-pit surface operation to a complex underground endeavor.

Navigating this transition requires a unified strategy. Mining companies maximize their efficiency by partnering with technology experts, such as Advanced Navigation, that can supply both rugged surface navigation solutions and ultra-precise underground navigation solutions. Advanced Navigation’s portfolio, spanning from the Certus (MEMS) to Boreas (FOG) range, allows mine managers to standardize their fleet strategy.

This partnership simplifies complex fleet management, streamlines integration, and helps provide your vehicles with the appropriate navigation capabilities across diverse operational zones.

Contact Advanced Navigation today to build a unified fleet strategy that delivers the level of inertial navigation system accuracy your operation needs to maximize safety and efficiency from the surface to the seam.

FAQs

Why are Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOG) required for underground mining instead of MEMS?

FOG systems are the default choice for underground operations with its north-seeking capabilities required in GNSS-disrupted environments. FOG systems provide the ultra-high accuracy needed for complex underground fleet management and precision tracking.

What causes GNSS blind spots on a mine site?

Satellite signals are easily compromised by multipath issues (bouncing signals off high pit walls) or environmental factors such as ionospheric scintillation. In regions such as Chile, for example, scintillation can cause complete GNSS outages lasting for several hours. To maintain autonomous navigation accuracy during these blackouts, operations need an Inertial Navigation System (INS) that uses sensor fusion to track the vehicle’s movement from its last known coordinate.

What is the main advantage of using MEMS technology for surface mining vehicles?

MEMS are highly recommended for surface haulage and support vehicles primarily due to their extreme ruggedness, allowing them to withstand harsh conditions. They effectively use accelerometers and gyroscopes to track a vehicle’s movement from its last known coordinate during temporary GNSS outages.

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