Sigdo Koppers Group subsidiary Enaex said this week it launched the Robominer teleoperated robot designed for mine safety and exploration.

The Robominer platform, developed in collaboration with SRI International, is designed with an intent to improve miner safety and increase access to minerals which are difficult or expensive to reach with human workers.

“SRI is honored to collaborate with Enaex on important innovations in robotics that will help mine workers be safer, healthier, and more productive,” SRI Int’l corporate biz & int’l dev VP Robert Pearlstein said in a prepared statement.

In its initial phase of development, the platform has the ability to capture mining environments in real time with 3D vision and to monitor gasses, temperatures and measure topography, Enaex said. In its next phase of development, the system will be designed to manipulate objects and materials, the company added.

“Projects such as Robominer with SRI – as well as our Mine iTruck teleoperated mobile explosives manufacturing truck – will enhance mining operations and resources by taking care of our greatest asset, which is people. Through the development of this type of project, Enaex wants to contribute in the conversion of Chile from a mineral exporting country to an exporter of innovative technology for the mining industry,” Enaex Grouop CEO Juan Errázuriz said in a press release.

Research and development for the Robominer platform was provided by the Chilean Ministry of Mining and Chilean economic development agency Corfo.