EACON Mining Technology has achieved a major milestone in Australian mining with onsite testing kicking off following the successful retrofit of the Komatsu HD1500 haul truck, Jerry. Featuring EACON's proven agnostic autonomy and universally adaptable drive by wire system, Jerry has now arrived onsite in Kalgoorlie and will undergo autonomous testing over the coming weeks. With approximately 1,800 trucks deployed across more than 25 mine sites and over 50 million kilometres of real world operation, this is the first trial of EACON’s autonomous technology on Australian soil.

The truck is also equipped with EACON’s ORCASTRA® PILOT kit, which delivers key autonomous capabilities including multi sensor perception for 360° environmental awareness, onboard computing units, LTE/5G communication modules, and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) networking. This enables safe, intelligent autonomous operation in even the most challenging mining environments.

To ensure the solution meets the demands of Australian mining’s geology, safety standards and regulatory frameworks, EACON’s newly established Australian team, with more than two decades of autonomous haulage operational insight, provided design input and feature characterisation. This has embedded local expertise into the deployment and ensures future rollouts are grounded in Australian mining capability.

The Komatsu HD1500 has arrived at Norton Gold Fields in Kalgoorlie, where it is undergoing comprehensive verification testing. The project is progressing to plan, with initial performance data meeting expectations ahead of live trials in an active open pit mining environment.

Elaine Jin, COO of EACON Mining Australia, commented:  “I am proud to see the first truck successfully retrofitted. This milestone reflects the strength of our vehicle engineering teams, and we look forward to validating its performance in the field.”

The trial will serve as a critical demonstration of the technology’s adaptability and performance in Australian surface mining, reinforcing EACON’s commitment to driving autonomous innovation in the industry. 

About Norton Gold Fields

Norton Gold Fields, established in 1983, is a prominent Australian gold producer operating in the Kalgoorlie gold region of Western Australia. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Zijin Mining, Norton oversees integrated open-pit and underground mining operations, including the Paddington Mill and the Binduli North Heap Leach Project. With substantial landholding across key gold belts and a strong focus on exploration, Norton is well-positioned to sustain long-term growth. Through operational excellence and continued investment, the company contributes meaningfully to the development of Australia’s gold sector.