Sydney University and Rio Tinto Build Mining Robots

Melbourne-based mining and exploration company Rio Tinto has teamed up with The University of Sydney to build one of the world's largest civilian robotics research centres for mining automation.

The Centre for Mine Automation will be based at the university's Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) with the aim of developing and implementing fully autonomous and remotely operated mining processes.

The university says the new centre, which is receiving funding up to A$5 million a year, will be the single largest investment in robotics research anywhere in the world.

Rio Tinto expects to add value to existing mine operations by developing technology, research and training in mine automation. The centre will support about 28 full-time staff and ten research students and is expected to operate for five to ten years.

A technical management group including representatives from Rio Tinto and the University of Sydney will guide strategic direction and monitor centre performance in the research.