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 briefly describe what each of these processes involves and identify some of the challenges/opportunities from the perspective of a decade-long industry-university R&D collaboration.

翻译：本文是一篇综述性文章，旨在概述采矿业（尤其是西澳大利亚皮尔巴拉铁矿石产区）所面临的工程问题、技术创新、机器人研发及自动化进展。目标在于描绘技术全景，并突出与工程界相关的问题，以提升对采矿业中人工智能与自动化趋势的认识。文章假设读者不具备采矿业背景知识，通过聚焦式讨论和对常见露天开采作业的简要总结，逐步构建背景知识。主要活动可划分为资源开发、矿山运营、铁路运营和港口运营四大类。从矿产勘探到矿石装运，其间大致包含九个步骤：地质评估、矿山规划与开发、生产钻孔与取样化验、爆破与挖掘、矿石与废石运输、破碎与筛分、堆存与装车、铁路网络调度以及矿石车厢卸载。本文旨在简要描述各流程涉及的内容，并从长达十年的产学研合作视角，指出其中的挑战与机遇。