  This survey article provides a synopsis on some of the engineering problems,
technological innovations, robotic development and automation efforts
encountered in the mining industry -- particularly in the Pilbara iron-ore
region of Western Australia. The goal is to paint the technology landscape and
highlight issues relevant to an engineering audience to raise awareness of AI
and automation trends in mining. It assumes the reader has no prior knowledge
of mining and builds context gradually through focused discussion and short
summaries of common open-pit mining operations. The principal activities that
take place may be categorized in terms of resource development, mine-, rail-
and port operations. From mineral exploration to ore shipment, there are
roughly nine steps in between. These include: geological assessment, mine
planning and development, production drilling and assaying, blasting and
excavation, transportation of ore and waste, crush and screen, stockpile and
load-out, rail network distribution, and ore-car dumping. The objective is to
describe these processes and provide insights on some of the
challenges/opportunities from the perspective of a decade-long
industry-university R&D partnership.
