Professor Ross McAree

Head of School

School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology
p.mcaree@uq.edu.au
+61 7 334 67823

Overview

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).

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.

Publications

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Grants

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Publications

Book Chapter

  • Soltani Naveh, K. and McAree, P. R. (2017). From MRAC to learning-based MPC: the emerging importance of machine learning for control of robot manipulators. Adaptive control for robotic manipulators. (pp. 1-28) edited by Dan Zhang and Bin Wei. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781315166056

  • Dight, P. M., Douglas, B., Henley, K., Lumley, G., McAree, P. R., Miller, D., Saydam, S., Topal, E., Wesseloo, J. and Williams, D. J. (2013). Developments in open cut mining. Australasian mining and metallurgical operating practices. (pp. 47-80) edited by W. J. Rankin. Carlton, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Daniel, R. W., Fischer, P. J. and McAree, P. R. (1996). Force Feedback and its applications to decommissioning. Advanced robotics and intelligent machines. (pp. 71-88) edited by J. O. Gray and D. G. Caldwell. Bath, United Kingdom: Institution of Electrical Engineers.

  • Hook, D. G, and McAree, P. R (1990). Using Sturm sequences to bracket real roots of polynomial equations. Graphics gems. (pp. 416-422) edited by Andrew S. Glassner. Boston, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-050753-8.50089-9

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Aremu, Oluseun Omotola, O'Reilly, Darren O., Hyland-Wood, David and McAree, Peter Ross (2019). Kullback-Leibler divergence constructed health indicator for data-driven predictive maintenance of multi-sensor systems. 17th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics, INDIN'19, Helsinki-Espoo, Finland, 23-25 July 2019. Piscataway, NJ United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/INDIN41052.2019.8972069

  • Aremu, Oluseun Omotola, Hyland-Wood, David and McAree, Peter Ross (2019). Machine learning-based embedding for discontinuous time series machine data. 17th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics, INDIN'19, Helsinki, Finland, 22-25 July 2019. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/INDIN41052.2019.8972020

  • Aremu, Oluseun Omotola, Salvador Palau, Adrià, Hyland-Wood, David, Parlikad, Ajith Kumar and McAree, Peter Ross (2018). Structuring data for intelligent predictive maintenance in asset management. 16th IFAC Symposium on Information Control Problems in Manufacturing, Bergamo, Italy, 11-13 June 2018. Laxenburg, Austria: International Federation of Automatic Control. doi: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.08.370

  • Job, Andrew, Edgar, Michael and McAree, Peter R. (2017). Real time shovel-mounted coal or ore sensing. Iron ore 2017, Perth WA, Australia, 24-26 July 2017. Perth WA: AusIMM.

  • Job, Andrew and McAree, Peter R. (2017). Three case studies on the implementation of new technology in the mining industry. Iron ore 2017, Perth WA, Australia, 24-26 July 2017. Perth WA, Australia: AusIMM: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Kearney, M. P., Smith, Z. V. and McAree, P. R. (2015). Receding horizon collision avoidance for large excavators. 2015 IFToMM World Congress, Taipei, Taiwan, 25-30 October 2015. Taipei, Taiwan: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University. doi: 10.6567/IFToMM.14TH.WC.OS13.028

  • Phillips, Tyson, Hahn, Martin and McAree, Ross (2013). An evaluation of ranging sensor performance for mining automation applications. IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics: Mechatronics for Human Wellbeing, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 9-12 July 2013. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/AIM.2013.6584271

  • Beasley, Peter and McAree, P. Ross (2013). Design and construction of a scale robotic excavator work-cell to test automated excavation algorithms. IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics: Mechatronics for Human Wellbeing, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, 9-12 July 2013. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/AIM.2013.6584222

  • Green, Matthew E., Ridley, Alexander N. and McAree, P. Ross (2013). Pose verification for autonomous equipment interaction in surface mining. 2013 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Woolongong, NSW, Australia, 9-12 July 2013. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE Xplore. doi: 10.1109/AIM.2013.6584257

  • Dudley, John J. and McAree, Peter R. (2013). Why the mining industry needs a reference architecture for automation initiatives. IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Woolongong, NSW, Australia, 9-12 July 2013. Piscataway, NJ, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/AIM.2013.6584357

  • Beasley, Peter and McAree, P. Ross (2012). A linear relaxation solution of the Tactical Movement Problem. 25th IEEE\RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Algarve, Portugal, 07-12 October 2012. Piscataway, NJ, United States: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/IROS.2012.6385760

  • Phillips, Tyson, Hahn, Martin and McAree, Ross (2012). An evaluation of ranging sensor performance for mining automation applications. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Qld., Australia: Colourwise Digital.

  • Edgar, Michael, Aw, Jonathan, Dudley, John, Marley, Roger, Reid, Anthony, Smith, Zane, Taylor, Adrian and McAree, Ross (2012). Characterization of a UWB transceiver for mining applications. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.

  • Green, Matthew, Ridley, Alexander and McAree, Peter R. (2012). Pose verification for mining automation applications. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth WAPerth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.

  • Beasley, Peter M. and McAree, Peter R. (2012). The tactical movement problem: solution by linear relaxation. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.

  • Dudley, John, Palmer, Lachlan and McAree, Ross (2012). Towards a reference architecture for mining automation. 2012 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, Australia, 8-10 October 2012. Brisbane, Australia: Colourwise Digital.

  • Denman, A., McAree, P.R., Kearney, M., Reid, A. and Austin, K. (2010). Swing trajectory control for large excavators. The 7th International Conference on Field and Service Robotics, Cambridge, MA, United States, 14-16 July 2009. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-13408-1_36

  • Beasley, Peter M. and McAree, Peter R. (2010). The tactical movement problem. 2010 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Perth, WA, Australia, 13-15 September 2010. Pinjarra Hills, QLD, Australia: CRC Mining.

  • Dudley, John, McAree, Peter R., Lever, Paul J.A., Jones, D. and Sprigg, M. (2010). Trade-level skills formation to support automation in the mining industry. Sustainable Mining 2010- The Business Case, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 17-19 August. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: Visual Image Processing.

  • Dudley, John and McAree, Peter R. (2010). Underground collision avoidance: From technology to solution. 2010 Australian Mining Technology Conference: "Technology changing the mining business footprint", Perth, WA, Australia, 13-15 September 2010. Pinjarra Hills, QLD, Australia: CRCMining.

  • 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).

  • 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

  • Williams, I., Upcroft, B., Denman, A., Reid, A. and McAree, P.R. (2009). Range sensor pose estimation. Australian Mining Technology Conference, Brisbane, Victoria, Australia. Pinjarra Hills, Qld, Australia: CRC 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.

  • Rakovic, S., Kearney, M. and McAree, P. R. (2009). Robust control correction synthesis: A set-theoretic approach. The 7th IEEE International Conference on Control and Automation, Christchurch, New Zealand, 9-11 December 2009. New York, United States: IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ICCA.2009.5410428

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Wallis, D. L., Jefferey, R., Siegrist, P. M. and McAree, P. R. (2006). Control systems modelling of a 2100BLE electric mining shovel. 2006 Australian Mining Technology Conference: 'Value through cost control', Hunter Valley, Australia, 26-27 September, 2006. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Smith, Z. V. and McAree, P.R. (2005). A distributed data-representation for facilitating equipment interactions. 2005 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Fremantle, Australia, 27-28 September 2005. Carlton, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Reid, A. W., Chiodi, V., Hall, A. S. and McAree, P. R. (2005). A performance evaluation of the CRCMining/P&H electric mining shovel monitor. Australian Mining Technology Conference - New Technologies to Produce More with Less, Fremantle, Western Australia, 27-28 September, 2005. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Austin, K. J., Calder, M. A. and McAree, P. R. (2005). Machine monitoring with wireless sensor networks. Proceedings of the 2005 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Freemantle, Western Australia, 27-28 September 2005. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Kearney, M. P. and McAree, P.R. (2005). Real-time collision prediction and control system for electric rope shovels. Proceedings of the 2005 Australian Mining Technology Conference, Freemantle, Western Australia, 27-28 September 2005. Carlton, Victoria, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Hillier, N. S. and McAree, P.R. (2004). Computer modelling of the dynamics of the RH200 hydraulic excavator. CRCMining Conference, Noosa Head, Queensland, Australia, 15-16 June 2004. Brisbane, Australia: Cooperative Research Centre - Mining (CRCMining).

  • Barter, B. S. and McAree, P.R. (2004). Longwall AFC Operating Regime Identification using the IMM Estimator. CRCMining Conference, Noosa Head, Queensland, Australia, 15-16 June 2004. Brisbane, Australia: Cooperative Research Centre - Mining (CRCMining).

  • Siegrist, PM and McAree, PR (2004). Sensor requirements for tyre force estimation applications to off-highway mining trucks. 11th World Congress in Mechanism and Machine Science, Tianjin Peoples R China, Apr 01-04, 2004. BEIJING: CHINA MACHINE PRESS.

  • Siegrist, P. M. and McAree, P. R. (2004). Sensor requirments for tyre force estimation; Applications to off-highway mining trucks. 11th World Congress in Mechanism and Machine Science, Tianjin, China, 18-21 August 2003.

  • Gurgenci, H., McAree, R., Meehan, P. and Guan, Z. (2002). How to Manage Machine Duty to Sustain High Production Rates. CMMI Congress 2002 - International Codes, Technology and Sustainability for the Minerals Industry, , , May 27, 2002-May 28, 2002.

  • Hillier, N. S. and McAree, P.R. (2002). Formulating the equations of motion for mechanisms having multiple kinematic loops. The Fifth Biennial Engineering Mathematics and Applications Ce, Queensland University of Queensland, Brisbane, 29/09/02-02/10/02. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.

  • Gurgenci, H., McAree, P.R., Meehan, P. A. and Guan, Z. (2002). How to manage machine duty to sustain high production rates. CMMI Congress 2002, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 27-28 May, 2002. Cairns, Queensland, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

  • Barter, B. S. and McAree, P.R. (2002). Performance analysis of fault detection and isolation techniques. The Fifth Biennual Engineering Mathematics and Applications Ce, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 29/09/02 - 02/10/02. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.

  • Siegrist, P. M. and McAree, P.R. (2002). Sensor requirements for tyre force estimation; Applications to off-highway mining trucks. The 5th Biennial Engineering Mathematics and Applications Ce, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 29 September - 2 October, 2002. Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane.

  • Siegrist, P. M., McAree, P. R. and Gurgenci, H. (1999). The interaction between mining trucks and haul roads. Recent Advances in Modal Analysis Practice, Gold Coast, Qld, Aust., 15-17 Dec 1999. Brisbane: The Univ. of Qld.

  • Selig, JM and McAree, PR (1996). A simple approach to invariant hybrid control. 1996 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Minneapolis Mn, Apr 22-28, 1996. NEW YORK: IEEE.

  • Bu, YH, Daniel, RW and McAree, PR (1996). Stability analysis of force reflecting telerobotic systems. 1996 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems - Robotic Intelligence Interacting with Dynamic Worlds (IROS 96), Osaka Japan, Nov 04-08, 1996. NEW YORK: IEEE.

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision