Autonomous road trains
Enhancing road safety, increasing operational efficiencies and reducing emissions.
In a world first, MinRes plans to use autonomous road trains to transport ore for the Onslow Iron project.
The single engine road trains are the biggest in the world and can each haul 330 tonnes of iron ore.
MinRes has partnered with world-leading autonomy specialists Hexagon to deliver the autonomous technology, which pivots around a central control system and includes:
- Sensory inputs: sensory system for awareness (truck performance, surroundings and location)
- Autonomy layer: the brains for decision making (make decisions to safely achieve the task)
- By-wire system: muscles for machine movement (electrical and mechanical systems)
The autonomous trucks can independently make decisions to safely achieve the directed tasks within set boundaries.
Learn more about our autonomous road trains.
Haul road
The autonomous road trains will travel along our dedicated, sealed and fenced haul road, which runs 150km from Ken’s Bore to the Port of Ashburton.
The road is fitted with roadside monitoring bases, which boast thermal imaging cameras that use artificial intelligence to provide early identification of potential issues with wheels, brakes and flat tyres.
The haul road is separate from public roads, with tunnels under the North West Coastal Highway and Onslow Road, meaning the road trains have no interaction with public vehicles.
The entire length of the haul road is fenced to keep stock and wild animals off the road.
