Modular Mining Systems, Inc. recently secured a major technological breakthrough with the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12743909. This patent, titled ‘Optimizing use of battery electric mine vehicles based on simulations’, introduces a powerful way to model and maximize the efficiency of electrified mining operations. Mine operators can now predict and optimize energy consumption for electric fleets with unprecedented precision.
Revolutionizing Mine Productivity and Simulation
The innovation focuses on a new computing environment tailored specifically for battery electric mine vehicles. This system determines work efficiency and stores it within a precise mine vehicle model. A geographical layout of the site is then imported to simulate the movement of vehicles and materials across the terrain. This setup yields a calculation of mine output as a function of the energy input to the machines. Configuration parameters can then be adjusted in the simulation to ensure real world mines meet their operational targets.
Awarded October 2026 Patent of the Month
Developed by inventors Kyle Everly, Josiah Pohl, Akshay Chowdu, and Christopher Utter, this invention was named the mining industry patent of the month for October 2026. The mining sector is currently undergoing a massive shift toward sustainable energy, and operators face complex challenges regarding battery life, charging infrastructure, and fleet routing. This technology is highly innovative because it replaces costly trial and error processes with advanced digital modeling. By allowing companies to accurately test energy scenarios and optimize machinery usage before physical deployment, the invention drastically reduces transition risks and ensures electric fleets maintain high productivity without overwhelming site power limits.
Eligibility for U.S. R&D Tax Credits
The practical applications of this patent offer clear pathways for companies to claim the Research and Development tax credit in the USA. When mining operators use these simulations to iteratively evaluate different vehicle configurations, routing strategies, or energy distributions, they are conducting a process of experimentation to eliminate technical uncertainties. The engineering hours spent configuring the operational models, testing variables, and developing custom integration plans for battery electric vehicles qualify as technological research. Consequently, the labor and associated costs required to apply these simulations for fleet optimization can help businesses offset the significant expenses associated with modernizing and electrifying their operations.
