Design features and prospects for using mobile walking excavators in the mining industry
M.G. Rakhutin, P.A. Efimov
National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4/ 2026 p. 102-105
Abstract: Mobile walking excavators (spider excavators) represent a specialized type of single-bucket hydraulic excavators equipped with a wheel-and-walking undercarriage featuring adjustable support legs. This design ensures high stability and maneuverability when operating on rough terrain, weak and waterlogged soils, as well as in confined working areas. This article describes design features and operational characteristics of mobile walking excavators and analyses international experience of their application, including their use in the mining industry. The authors highlight the advantages of employing such excavators in mining, e.g. the possibility to use various attachments, including drilling units and hydraulic breakers, as well as their limiting factors, such as the high cost and low productivity. The prospects and scope of application for the mobile walking excavators in the Russian mining industry are discussed. The authors believe that such excavators could be useful in geological surveys, the development and reclamation of deposits; for levelling the slopes at abandoned workings, spoil dump planning, applying topsoil, carrying out land reclamation and other operations; when carrying out surface mining on benches, slopes, pit banks and spoil dumps; in underwater mining; in emergency response to flooding incidents during underground operations, etc. The authors argue that the future development of this technology lies in further increasing of the bucket capacity and power, as well as enhancing the performance of the hydraulic system, while reducing the energy consumption.
Keywords: mobile walking excavator, spider excavator, wheel-and-walking undercarriage, mining industry, slope stability, land reclamation
For citation: Rakhutin M.G., Efimov P.A. Design features and prospects for using mobile walking excavators in the mining industry. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4):102–105. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4-102-105
Information about the article
Received: 25.03.2026
Received after peer review: 04.05.2026
Accepted for publication: 15.05.2026
Information about the authors
Maxim G. Rakhutin – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor of Mining Institute, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5873-5550; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Platon A. Efimov – Postgraduate Student, Mining Institute, National University of Science and Technology “MISIS”, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
References
1. Ulitich O.Yu., Kozlov N.S. Wheel-walking excavators – review of existing designs of leading manufacturers. Avtomobil'. Doroga. Infrastruktura. 2019;(2):10. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.adi-madi.ru/madi/article/view/747 (accessed: 20.02.2026).
2. Jelavic E., Berdou Y., Jud D., Kerscher S., Hutter M. Terrain-adaptive planning and control of complex motions for walking excavators. In: 2020 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Las Vegas, NV, USA, 4 October 2020 – 24 January 2021. IEEE; 2021. https://doi.org/10.1109/IROS45743.2020.9341655
3. Lèbre É., Stringer M., Svobodova K., Owen J.R., Kemp D., Côte C. et al. The social and environmental complexities of extracting energy transition metals. Nature Communications. 2020;11(1):4823. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18661-9
4. Jones M.A., Roth J., Wiseman K. Flexible rockfall mitigation design for varying site conditions. In: Proceedings of the 68th Highway Geology Symposium (HGS 2017), Marietta Georgia, United States, May 1–4, 2017, pp. 37–48. Available at: https://trid.trb.org/view/1473990 (accessed: 20.02.2026).
5. Laggan J., Rosebrook K. Rivera A., Spider excavator pilot study for removal action planning at abandoned uranium mine sites – SME Annual Meeting 2025. In: SME Annual Conference & Expo 2025, Denver, Colorado, USA, February 23–26, 2025. Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration; 2025. 4 p. Available at: https://onetunnel.org/documents/spider-excavatorpilot-study-for-removal-action-planning-at-abandoned-uranium-mine-sites-sme-annual-meeting-2025 (accessed: 20.02.2026).
6. Frankovský J., Kenderessy J. The construction of the main interceptor sewer in Banská Bystrica. Tunel: Magazine of the Czech tunnelling committee and Slovak tunnelling association ITA/AITES. 2006(2):42–45. Available at: https://www.ita-aites.cz/files/tunel/komplet/tunel_2_06.pdf (accessed: 20.02.2026).
7. Shirinskaya N.A. Spider excavators: a powerful solution for complex tasks. Portal for working with special equipment in Russia Nashel.ru. June 29, 2025. (In Russ.) Available at: https://nashel.ru/blog/106-spayderekskavatory-moshchnoyeresheniye-dlya-slozhnykh-zadach/ (accessed: 20.09.2025).
