Automation and AI Technology in Surface Mining With a Brief Introduction to Open-Pit Operations in the Pilbara

TL;DR

This survey reviews AI and automation advancements in surface mining, focusing on engineering challenges, technological innovations, and robotic developments in the Pilbara region, highlighting industry trends and research collaborations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of automation and AI trends in surface mining, emphasizing recent technological innovations and industry challenges in the Pilbara region.

Findings

Highlights key automation challenges in open-pit mining

Summarizes recent technological innovations in mining automation

Provides insights from a decade-long industry-university partnership

Abstract

This survey article provides a synopsis on some of the engineering problems, technological innovations, robotic development and automation efforts encountered in the mining industry -- particularly in the Pilbara iron-ore region of Western Australia. The goal is to paint the technology landscape and highlight issues relevant to an engineering audience to raise awareness of AI and automation trends in mining. It assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of mining and builds context gradually through focused discussion and short summaries of common open-pit mining operations. The principal activities that take place may be categorized in terms of resource development, mine-, rail- and port operations. From mineral exploration to ore shipment, there are roughly nine steps in between. These include: geological assessment, mine planning and development, production drilling and assaying, blasting and excavation, transportation of ore and waste, crush and screen, stockpile and load-out, rail network distribution, and ore-car dumping. The objective is to describe these processes and provide insights on some of the challenges/opportunities from the perspective of a decade-long industry-university R&D partnership.