Overview

Rio Tinto’s autonomous train is 2.4km long, consists of three locomotives and carries around 28,000 tonnes of iron ore, it travels over 280km. It’s the world’s first fully autonomous, long distance, heavy-haul rail network. The trains are giant autonomous robots because once they are set on their course, they make all the decisions.

The AutoHaul™ team monitor the trains remotely from the Operations Centre in Perth (over 1,500km away), they set the route and once the train is running the on-board computers and the computers in the Operations Centre take over and control the train. From setting the speed, to avoiding collisions, checking for obstructions at crossings and verifying there are no faults, damage or broken couplings.

Learn more about the innovation behind this world-first technology.

About the speaker

Lido Costa, MIEAust CPEng NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus), Lead Technical Engineer, Rio Tinto

Lido was the Lead Technical Engineer on the AutoHaul® Driverless Trains system. Lido was part of the project delivery leadership team responsible for all technical aspects of the system. As Technical Authority, Lido was accountable for approving technical changes to the AutoHaul® system. This role represented the most senior level of engineering oversight for the AutoHaul® system, on behalf of RTIO, including approving of System Hardware and Software Architecture and Safety Assurance strategy. Lido has over 35 years’ experience in Railway Signalling, Communications and Control Systems with leading roles in projects in Europe (such as the Madrid – Seville High Speed Line), Asia, Africa and Australia. Lido is a Chartered Professional Engineer (Aus) and a Fellow of the Institute for Railway Signalling Engineers (FIRSE) UK.

To register, click on the link below.