Rio Tino's autonomous train has completed its first delivery of iron ore in Western Australia's Pilbara.
The train, consisting of three locomotives and described by Rio Tinto as "the world's largest robot", travelled over 280km from the company's mining operations in Tom Price to the port of Cape Lambert on Tuesday, July 10.
The train was remotely monitored by Rio Tinto's Operations Centre in Perth more than 1,500km away. The locomotives are equipped with AutoHaul software and are fitted with on-board cameras for monitoring from the centre.
"We will continue to ensure our autonomous trains operate safely under the wide range of conditions we experience in the Pilbara, where we record more than 8 million kilometres of train travel each year," said Ivan Vella, Rio Tinto Iron Ore managing director for Rail, Port and Core Services.
"We are working closely with drivers during this transition period as we prepare our employees for new ways of working as a result of automation."
The successful delivery forms part of the company's AutoHaul project, which, when complete later this year, will enable the world's first fully autonomous, long-distance, heavy-haul rail network, Rio Tinto said.
The project got accreditation in May, allowing the company to commercially operate its fleet[1] for iron ore delivery in the state. The fleet will provide safety and productivity gains for the business, a speedier network, and more flexibility for the company's iron ore system, the company said.
In October, the company claimed to have conducted the country's first autonomous long haul train journey[2], running for nearly 100km between Wombay Junction and Paraburdoo in WA.
Rio Tinto said it is operating about 200 locomotives on over 1,700km