Strategic Elements (ASX: SOR) Launches EdgeiQ Portable Mining Pilot

Strategic Elements has launched a commercial pilot program for its EdgeiQ Portable underground mining system, with its wholly owned Stealth Technologies business now in discussions with prospective partners over revenue-generating deployments.

The handheld technology combines LiDAR scanning, 3D mapping, spatial positioning and onboard analysis. It is designed to capture and process information at the mining face without GPS, internet access or cloud computing — important constraints in underground operations.

The launch moves EdgeiQ Portable into an early commercialisation phase after five underground field trials with a Tier 1 mining company and several generations of hardware development. However, Strategic Elements has not yet announced a pilot agreement, customer, contract value or prospective revenue.

Further details will be released if an agreement is executed and the relevant mining partner approves disclosure.

AI model runs on handheld hardware

Alongside the pilot launch, Stealth has demonstrated an initial artificial intelligence model running directly on EdgeiQ Portable. The model produced test outputs in about 100 milliseconds per inference without additional computing equipment or an external connection.

Developed with Curtin University’s Western Australian School of Mines, the model is intended to predict overbreak and associated dilution. Overbreak occurs when more rock than planned is removed during underground development, adding waste material and costs to mining operations.

The initial model was trained on 1,000 simulated mining rounds using ground conditions and drilling parameters.

A Tier 1 mining company has approved access to operational data and begun supplying it to Stealth. This is expected to support further model development during the fourth quarter of 2026. A potential underground field trial could follow in the first quarter of 2027, subject to technical progress and access to the partner’s site.

Building on EdgeiQ’s first mining contract

EdgeiQ Portable is separate from Stealth’s fixed-site EdgeiQ OnSite system, which previously secured its first commercial mining contract with a major global gold producer. That system is used for underground mine haulage measurement and analysis.

Stealth estimates the theoretical global opportunity for the initial EdgeiQ OnSite truck-load haulage application exceeds A$500 million, based on potential hardware sales and first-year recurring software revenue. The figure is an internal market estimate.

For EdgeiQ Portable, the addressable operating environment is broad. GlobalData estimates there are about 2,300 operating underground mines worldwide, while Western Australia’s MINEDEX database identifies 58 in the state. Stealth plans to use its Western Australian base for further product development, trials and early deployments before pursuing wider international markets.