The key point of intelligent excavation technology, a trend for hard strata excavation in metal mines, lies in the technologies of positioning by combinations and trajectory tracking control. The study elaborated on the achieve-ments in strata excavation technology, and navigation and positioning technology made in each stage, and dissected the shortcomings in technological terms while exploring the development regularities. The existing achievements made in positioning by combinations and trajectory tracking are comprehensively reviewed and commented objectively, before a set of schemes for positioning by combinations are devised specifically for new-type intelligent excavation equipment for mines. Finally, the development trend and research focus of intelligent excavation through hard strata in metal mines are prospected in a reasonable way.