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
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
2009
Conference Publication
A Constrained Control Methodology to Assist Operators of Mining Shovels to Avoid Collisions
Michael Kearney, Zane Smith and McAree, Peter R. (2009). A Constrained Control Methodology to Assist Operators of Mining Shovels to Avoid Collisions. Australian mining technology conference, Brisbane Australia, October 27-28 2009. Carlton, Victoria Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
2009
Conference Publication
Skills formation to support the future of automation in the resource industry
Dudley, John, McAree, Peter R., Lever, Paul J.A., Jones, D. and Sprigg, M. (2009). Skills formation to support the future of automation in the resource industry. 2009 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 27-28 October 2009. Carlton, Victoria Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2009
Conference Publication
Relative Vehicle Localisation in Surface Mining
Matthew Green and McAree, Peter R. (2009). Relative Vehicle Localisation in Surface Mining. Australian mining technology conference, Brisbane Australia, October 27-28 2009. Carlton, Victoria Australia: THE AUSTRALASIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY.
2008
Conference Publication
Situational awareness for automated operation of electric mining shovels
Williams, I. A. and McAree, P. R. (2008). Situational awareness for automated operation of electric mining shovels. 2008 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Sunshine Coast, Australia, 16-18 September 2008. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2007
Journal Article
A better measuring system
McAree, Ross and Long, Andrew (2007). A better measuring system. AusIMM Bulletin (3), 38-39.
2007
Other Outputs
Collision Control and Avoidance for Electric Mining Shovels - ACARP Project C15038
McAree, Peter Ross and Siergist, Paul Martin (2007). Collision Control and Avoidance for Electric Mining Shovels - ACARP Project C15038. Brisbane Qld Australia: ACARP (Australian Coal Industry Research Program).
2007
Conference Publication
A framework for relative equipment localisation
Green, M., Williams, I. and McAree, P. R. (2007). A framework for relative equipment localisation. 2007 Australian Mining Technology Conference, The Vines, Western Australia, 2-4 October, 2007. Melbourne, Victoria: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2007
Conference Publication
Realtime friction estimation using the Kalman Inverse Filter
McAree, P. R. and Austin, K. J. (2007). Realtime friction estimation using the Kalman Inverse Filter. Twelfth World Congress in Mechanism and Machine Science, Besançon, France, 17-21 June, 2007.
2007
Conference Publication
Progress in multi-boom jumbo sequencing
Austin, K. J., Champion, M. and McAree, P. R. (2007). Progress in multi-boom jumbo sequencing. 2007 CRC Australian Mining Technology Conference, The Vines, Western Australia, Australia, 2-4 October 2007. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2007
Conference Publication
Developments in mining shovel automation
McAree, P. R., Burant, J. and Austin, K. J. (2007). Developments in mining shovel automation. 2007 Australian Mining Technology Conference, The Vines, Western Australia, 2-4 October, 2007. Melbourne, Victoria: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2007
Journal Article
Transmission friction in an electric mining shovel
Austin, Kevin J. and McAree, P. Ross (2007). Transmission friction in an electric mining shovel. Journal of Field Robotics, 24 (10), 863-875. doi: 10.1002/rob.20223
2006
Conference Publication
Optimal drill pattern sequencing for multi-boom jumbos
Champion, M., Austin, K. and McAree, P. R. (2006). Optimal drill pattern sequencing for multi-boom jumbos. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference: Value through cost control, The Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Vic. Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2006
Conference Publication
A method for globally locating electric mining shovels
Green, M., Siegrist, P. M., Calder, M. and McAree, P. R. (2006). A method for globally locating electric mining shovels. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Hunter Valley, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2006
Conference Publication
Characterising transmission friction in the 2100BLE electric mining shovel
Austin, K. and McAree, P. (2006). Characterising transmission friction in the 2100BLE electric mining shovel. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Hunter Valley, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2006
Journal Article
Tyre-force estimation by Kalman inverse filtering: applications to off-highway mining trucks
Siegrist, PM and McAree, PR (2006). Tyre-force estimation by Kalman inverse filtering: applications to off-highway mining trucks. Vehicle System Dynamics, 44 (12), 921-937. doi: 10.1080/00423110600784959
2006
Conference Publication
Monitoring underground road roughness
Walls, L. D. and McAree, P. R. (2006). Monitoring underground road roughness. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Hunter Valley, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2006
Conference Publication
Prediction models for collision avoidance on electric mining shovels
Siegrist, P. M., McAree, P. R., Wallis, D. L., Kearney, M. P. and van Geenhuizen, J. A. (2006). Prediction models for collision avoidance on electric mining shovels. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference: Value through cost control, The Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Vic. Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2006
Conference Publication
Constrained model predictive control for obstacle avoidance in rate-controlled systems
Kearney, M. P., Siegrist, P. M. and McAree, P. R. (2006). Constrained model predictive control for obstacle avoidance in rate-controlled systems. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference: Value through cost control, Hunter Valley, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2006
Conference Publication
Fast Minkowski hull operation
Smith, Z. V. and McAree, P. R. (2006). Fast Minkowski hull operation. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference: Value through cost control, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Vic. Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
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
Mapping Unstructured Environments for Real-Time Pose Estimation using Multimodal Perception to Explore and Provide Trusted Autonomy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tyson Phillips, Dr Jasmin Martin
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a smart spreader system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Micah Nehring, Dr Tyson Phillips, Professor Peter Knights
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
-
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
-
-
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
-
2003
Master Philosophy
EFFECT OF BLASTING PATTERNS ON EXCAVATOR RELIABILITY AND MAINTENANCE
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Master Philosophy
A perception pipeline exploiting trademark databases for service robots
Associate Advisor
-
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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