Overview
Background
Professor Ross McAree is Head of the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at the University of Queensland. His research interests are focused on machinery dynamics and control with a current emphasis on mining equipment automation.. Professor McAree led the development and demonstration of the world’s first fully autonomous mining excavator as the outcome of a 10year collaboration with Joy Global Surface Mining (now part of Komatsu) and has collaborated with Caterpillar Inc. to develop and trial the world’s first autonomous bulldozer capable of production dozing using the ‘pivot push’ method. From 2007-2015 Professor McAree held an industry funded (P&H) Chair in Mechanical Engineering and from 2009-2015 he was Vice President for Automation and Automation Program Leader with the Cooperative Research Centre for Mining. He has attracted in excess of $12M dollars of Category 1-3 and $8.5M of Category 4 funding has contributed to the winning of two CRC bids (CRCMining and CRCMining2) for a total of $35.2M funding. He established the Mechatronic Engineering Plan at UQ in 2002. He has given leadership to his School as Chair of Research Committee (2009-2015) and Teaching and Learning Committee (2015-2017). Significant external service includes serving as Chair for the Australian Academy of Science National Committee on Mechanical Sciences (2001-2006) and as the Australian representative to the International Federation of Mechanism and Machine Theory (2001-continuing), Associate Editor for journal ‘Mechatronics’ (1999-2011) and member of Australian Standards Committees ME-27 and IT-06P. Professor McAree is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE).
Availability
- Professor Ross McAree is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research impacts
Professor McAree's research group have been involved in the development of several automation technologies for the mining sector which have been commercialized. The outputs have been estimated to have had benefit to the global mining industry of in excess of $1000m.
Works
Search Professor Ross McAree’s works on UQ eSpace
2013
Book Chapter
Developments in open cut mining
Dight, P. M., Douglas, B., Henley, K., Lumley, G., McAree, P. R., Miller, D., Saydam, S., Topal, E., Wesseloo, J. and Williams, D. J. (2013). Developments in open cut mining. Australasian mining and metallurgical operating practices. (pp. 47-80) edited by W. J. Rankin. Carlton, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2012
Journal Article
A multiple level of detail approach to the tactical movement problem
Beasley, Peter and McAree, P. R. (2012). A multiple level of detail approach to the tactical movement problem. International Journal of Automation Technology, 6 (6), 749-756. doi: 10.20965/ijat.2012.p0749
2012
Conference Publication
Towards a reference architecture for mining automation
Dudley, John, Palmer, Lachlan and McAree, Ross (2012). Towards a reference architecture for mining automation. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.
2012
Conference Publication
A linear relaxation solution of the Tactical Movement Problem
Beasley, Peter and McAree, P. Ross (2012). A linear relaxation solution of the Tactical Movement Problem. 25th IEEE\RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Algarve, Portugal, 07-12 October 2012. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/IROS.2012.6385760
2012
Conference Publication
The tactical movement problem: solution by linear relaxation
Beasley, Peter M. and McAree, Peter R. (2012). The tactical movement problem: solution by linear relaxation. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.
2012
Conference Publication
Pose verification for mining automation applications
Green, Matthew, Ridley, Alexander and McAree, Peter R. (2012). Pose verification for mining automation applications. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth WAPerth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.
2012
Conference Publication
An evaluation of ranging sensor performance for mining automation applications
Phillips, Tyson, Hahn, Martin and McAree, Ross (2012). An evaluation of ranging sensor performance for mining automation applications. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Qld., Australia: Colourwise Digital.
2012
Conference Publication
Characterization of a UWB transceiver for mining applications
Edgar, Michael, Aw, Jonathan, Dudley, John, Marley, Roger, Reid, Anthony, Smith, Zane, Taylor, Adrian and McAree, Ross (2012). Characterization of a UWB transceiver for mining applications. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.
2011
Other Outputs
Method for position-calibration of a digging assembly for electric mining shovels
McAree, Peter R., Reid, Anthony, Siegrist, Paul M. and Austin, Kevin J. (2011). Method for position-calibration of a digging assembly for electric mining shovels. US8515708B2 (Grant).
2011
Other Outputs
Skills Development for a Low Carbon Econom - Mining. A report prepared for the Mining Industry Skills Centre.
McAree, Peter Ross and Dudley, John (2011). Skills Development for a Low Carbon Econom - Mining. A report prepared for the Mining Industry Skills Centre.. Spring Hill, QLD, Australia: Mining Industry Skills Centre.
2010
Other Outputs
Real time method for determining the spatial pose of electric mining shovels
McAree, Peter R. and Reid, Anthony (2010). Real time method for determining the spatial pose of electric mining shovels. US8571762B2.
2010
Other Outputs
Collision avoidance for electric mining shovels
McAree, Peter R. (2010). Collision avoidance for electric mining shovels. US8346512B2.
2010
Other Outputs
Automation For Success
Dudley, John James, McAree, Peter R. and Lever, Paul J. A. (2010). Automation For Success. Brisbane QLD Australia: Cooperative Research Centre for Mining (CRCMining); Mining Industry Skills Centre.
2010
Conference Publication
Trade-level skills formation to support automation in the mining industry
Dudley, John, McAree, Peter R., Lever, Paul J.A., Jones, D. and Sprigg, M. (2010). Trade-level skills formation to support automation in the mining industry. Sustainable Mining 2010- The Business Case, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 17-19 August. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: Visual Image Processing.
2010
Journal Article
Functional safety: an indispensible prerequisite for mining automation
McAree, P. R. (2010). Functional safety: an indispensible prerequisite for mining automation. Australasian Mine Safety Journal, 3 (1), 24-24.
2010
Conference Publication
Underground collision avoidance: From technology to solution
Dudley, John and McAree, Peter R. (2010). Underground collision avoidance: From technology to solution. 2010 Australian Mining Technology Conference: "Technology changing the mining business footprint", Perth, WA, Australia, 13-15 September 2010. Pinjarra Hills, QLD, Australia: CRCMining.
2010
Conference Publication
Swing trajectory control for large excavators
Denman, A., McAree, P.R., Kearney, M., Reid, A. and Austin, K. (2010). Swing trajectory control for large excavators. The 7th International Conference on Field and Service Robotics, Cambridge, MA, United States, 14-16 July 2009. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-13408-1_36
2010
Conference Publication
The tactical movement problem
Beasley, Peter M. and McAree, Peter R. (2010). The tactical movement problem. 2010 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 13-15 September 2010. Pinjarra Hills, QLD, Australia: CRC Mining.
2009
Other Outputs
Payload estimation system and method
McAree, Peter Ross and Wauge, David Herman (2009). Payload estimation system and method. US 2009/0187527 A1.
2009
Conference Publication
Control correction synthesis: A set of theoretic approach
Kearney, Michael Peter, Rakovic, Sasa V. and McAree, Peter Ross (2009). Control correction synthesis: A set of theoretic approach. European Control Conference 2009, Budapest, Hungary, 23-26 August, 2009. Budapest, Hungary: European Union Control Association. doi: 10.23919/ecc.2009.7074886
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ross McAree is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
ADVANCED AUTONOMY FOR UNMANNED VEHICLES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tyson Phillips
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mission Planning for Autonomous Dozers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zane Smith
-
Doctor Philosophy
Autonomous bulldozers for stockyard management
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Zane Smith
-
Doctor Philosophy
ADVANCED AUTONOMY FOR UNMANNED VEHICLES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tyson Phillips
-
Doctor Philosophy
ADVANCED AUTONOMY FOR UNMANNED VEHICLES
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tyson Phillips
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping Unstructured Environments for Real-Time Pose Estimation using Multimodal Perception to Explore and Provide Trusted Autonomy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tyson Phillips
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mapping Unstructured Environments for Real-Time Pose Estimation using Multimodal Perception to Explore and Provide Trusted Autonomy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tyson Phillips
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a smart spreader system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Micah Nehring, Dr Tyson Phillips, Professor Peter Knights
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of a smart spreader system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Micah Nehring, Dr Tyson Phillips, Professor Peter Knights
-
Doctor Philosophy
Autonomous insect-machine hybrid robots
Associate Advisor
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Building and maintaining real-time terrain maps for autonomous bulldozer mining
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Austin, Dr Tyson Phillips
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Mission planning under bounded rationality for autonomous excavation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Austin
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Autonomous material characterisation for precision mineral extraction
Principal Advisor
-
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Traction Estimation and Adaptive Autonomous Driving for an Articulated Mining Truck
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Achieving a Representation of Asset Data Conducive to Machine Learning driven Predictive Maintenance
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Hyland-Wood, Professor Peter Knights
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2019
Master Philosophy
A treatise on the productivity of semi-automated pivot push bulldozing
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Determining and verifying object pose from LiDAR measurements to support the perception needs of an autonomous excavator
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Master Philosophy
Scan matching for terrain mapping in open-pit mining
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Austin
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2014
Master Philosophy
Enhancing Awareness to Support Teleoperation of a Bulldozer
Principal Advisor
-
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating and verifying truck pose for automated excavator loading
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Failure detection in longwall armored face conveyors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Hal Gurgenci
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Avoidance filtering for human-commanded manipulation systems using constrained control
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Algorithms for Collision Hulls and their Applications to Path Planning
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Optimal drill pattern assignment for multi boom jumbos
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Austin
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2008
Master Philosophy
Models for predictive control of electric mining shovels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Mee
-
2006
Doctor Philosophy
GEOMETRIC ALGORITHMS FOR MACHINE DYNAMICS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Hal Gurgenci
-
2006
Master Philosophy
QUANTIFYING ROAD SURFACE QUALITY FOR UNDERGROUND HAUL ROADS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Hal Gurgenci
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
A METHODOLOGY FOR MONITORING TYRE-FORCES ON OFF-HIGHWAY MINING TRUCKS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Hal Gurgenci
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2003
Master Philosophy
EFFECT OF BLASTING PATTERNS ON EXCAVATOR RELIABILITY AND MAINTENANCE
Principal Advisor
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2020
Master Philosophy
A perception pipeline exploiting trademark databases for service robots
Associate Advisor
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2012
Master Philosophy
Gas Turbine Control in Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Plants
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Hal Gurgenci
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
IMPLEMENTATION OF CMAC AS A NEURAL NETWORK CONTROLLER ON MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Ross McAree directly for media enquiries about:
- Automation and autonomous systems
- Autonomous mining equipment
- Mechanical engineering
- Mechatronic engineering
- Safety related control systems
- Societal consequences of automation
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