At the critical chokepoints of mine transportation, a single boulder stuck on a grizzly can bring an entire production line to a halt. In the past, the only solution was to have operators work dangerously close to crushers or grizzlies in high-risk, close-quarters operations. The risks were visible but never truly eliminated.
Now, the global mining industry is approaching a pivotal turning point: workers will remotely manage multiple autonomous breaking robots simultaneously from the safety of a surface-level control room. Finland's Normet Group recently announced its Xrock Autobreaker—regarded by the industry as the world's first fully autonomous breaking solution—which is comprehensively reshaping ore flow control models in underground mines.
Complete Removal from High-Risk Zones
This innovation is not a simple technological iteration but a profound reinvention of traditional breaking workflows.
An autonomous "Sense-Plan-Execute" closed-loop:
The Xrock Autobreaker demonstrates an extremely high level of intelligence. Using real-time camera vision and sensor fusion technology, it generates dynamic point cloud models of ore piles at the dump point. It can not only automatically identify oversized rocks but also autonomously plan striking positions and execute the breaking process automatically. Crucially, the system can also adjust its breaking strategy in real time based on the dynamic changes in the ore pile during the breaking process.
Enabling a new model of one operator remotely managing multiple machines:
The system allows operators to perform all monitoring and intervention work from a protected control room far from the danger zone, with one operator safely supervising multiple breaking systems. This fundamentally changes the nature of high-risk jobs, enabling new personnel to work safely and expanding the industry's talent pool.
Comprehensive intelligence coverage, leading to an "unmanned" future:
The system can also autonomously plan and control the robotic arm, identify the breaking phase, and communicate seamlessly with the mine's main control system. It can optionally be equipped with the Xquick quick coupler system, supporting the automatic exchange of tools such as hydraulic breakers, grapples, and magnetic separators, ensuring the entire breaking process requires no manual on-site intervention.
Market and Safety Outlook
The application prospects of the Xrock Autobreaker are elevating mining safety and efficiency to new heights:
Historic elimination of high-risk roles (Safety Value): Grizzly breaking was the last bastion of manual defense in underground mining. Normet's R&D director stated bluntly that this innovation clears the final obstacle to achieving fully autonomous operations.
Disruptive improvement in operational efficiency (Engineering Benefits): The system achieves continuous and stable ore flow and can perform remote tool changes automatically, maximizing equipment utilization. This innovation elevates the concept from "reducing manpower" to a fundamentally technology-driven, high-efficiency operational model.
A technological ecosystem empowering the future mines worldwide (Industry Blueprint): The Xrock Autobreaker is a standalone module within Normet Group's Xrock Automation platform. Currently formally launched for the global market in grizzly applications, the system can seamlessly integrate with existing breaker booms, marking a critical leap for the mining industry from explosion-proof electrification to unmanned operations.
From visual inspections and manual operations to sensor perception and AI-driven autonomous decision-making, the launch of the Normet Xrock Autobreaker not only solves the ultimate safety problem of personnel being unable to remain in danger zones but also propels China's and the global mining industry into a new, data-driven era of unmanned operations.