Russia Launches Smart Navigation System for Mining Explosives Trucks

A new ultra-precise GNSS positioning system boosts the accuracy and speed of blast drilling operations by 50 percent.

Russian tech company AZOTTECH has unveiled a cutting-edge positioning and navigation system for explosive charging vehicles (ECVs), dubbed AISTblast.Positioning. The system is already operational at mining sites in Siberia and the Murmansk region, and it recently earned recognition at the international Mining Industry 4.0 competition, according to the journal Mining Industry.

AISTblast.Positioning achieves remarkable precision—down to 1 centimeter. It tracks both vehicles and explosives technicians via a GNSS receiver embedded in a backpack. The system also improves efficiency: surveyors receive borehole data before drilling even begins. Other advantages include automated tracking of explosive materials, customization for individual customer needs, and support for real-time telemetry.

Previously, discrepancies between design plans and actual borehole locations often led to costly errors. With AISTblast.Positioning, mining companies can more accurately load explosives, accelerate drilling and blasting, and reduce risks through precise monitoring.

AZOTTECH isn’t stopping there. The company is now developing a smart drilling rig monitoring system with AI analytics. It’s also deepening its partnership with Indian manufacturer PRD, whose rigs are already being used in Yakutia.

This rollout is part of a broader trend toward digitalization in Russian mining. The next phase will focus on scaling these technologies to other industrial sites across the country.