# Piggybacking on an Autonomous Hauler: Business Models Enabling a System-of-Systems Approach to Mapping an Underground Mine

## TL;DR

This paper explores how integrating autonomous haulers with existing mine mapping systems as a system-of-systems can enhance underground mine safety and productivity, considering various business models and stakeholder roles.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel system-of-systems framework for underground mine mapping using autonomous haulers and analyzes different stakeholder-driven scenarios.

## Key findings

- Four business model scenarios analyzed for technical and economic trade-offs.
- Stakeholder roles and control influence system design and operational risks.
- Trade-offs between control, costs, risks, and innovation are crucial for scenario selection.

## Abstract

With ever-increasing productivity targets in mining operations, there is a growing interest in mining automation. In future mines, remote-controlled and autonomous haulers will operate underground guided by LiDAR sensors. We envision reusing LiDAR measurements to maintain accurate mine maps that would contribute to both safety and productivity. Extrapolating from a pilot project on reliable wireless communication in Boliden's Kankberg mine, we propose establishing a system-of-systems (SoS) with LIDAR-equipped haulers and existing mapping solutions as constituent systems. SoS requirements engineering inevitably adds a political layer, as independent actors are stakeholders both on the system and SoS levels. We present four SoS scenarios representing different business models, discussing how development and operations could be distributed among Boliden and external stakeholders, e.g., the vehicle suppliers, the hauling company, and the developers of the mapping software. Based on eight key variation points, we compare the four scenarios from both technical and business perspectives. Finally, we validate our findings in a seminar with participants from the relevant stakeholders. We conclude that to determine which scenario is the most promising for Boliden, trade-offs regarding control, costs, risks, and innovation must be carefully evaluated.