Rio, GE, Atlas unite to automate mining

Rio Tinto has formed separate alliances with Atlas Copco and General Electric (GE) to develop autonomous drilling and energy-efficient mining solutions.

Atlas Copco and Rio Tinto have teamed up to develop autonomous drilling solutions for surface mining to create safer and more efficient operations.

"This development will allow for more efficient operations, delivering more tonnes faster, with reduced carbon emissions, low costs and a safer working environment," Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese said in a statement.

Atlas Copco manufactures drills used in the mining and civil industries and has experience in automating drill functions, particularly for underground drill products.

"The surface and underground mining industries are moving faster towards automation and control technologies to increase safety and to deliver greater speed and productivity," Atlas Copco chief executive Gunnar Brock said in a statement.

Rio Tinto has also formed an alliance with GE to develop energy-efficient and ecologically friendly solutions for future mining operations.

The companies will work together on two projects: Rio Tinto's 'Mine of the Future' and GE's 'Ecomagination'.

Rio Tinto has already unveiled plans for the project, which includes driverless trains and trucks for its operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The plan also includes a remote operations centre for the Pilbara operations, 1300 km from Perth.