MineStar Command for Hauling by Caterpillar Inc.: status and timeline

MineStar Command for Hauling

Autonomous haulage system for large haul trucks at mines worldwide. DGPS, radar, and LiDAR enable navigation; fleet management coordinates with manned equipment.

ScalingStage 5 of 5

Deployed at 17 mine sites; 3 billion+ tonnes moved; expanding to quarries and new geographies.

Updated Jun 2026Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Carmeuse deployment at Drummond Island quarry

First large-scale deployment at Fortescue Metals Solomon Hub2012Complete.
Expansion to Fortescue Chichester Hub2015Complete.
One billion tonnes moved by Fortescue fleetSep 2019Complete.
Three billion tonnes moved across all Command customers2026Complete.
Carmeuse deployment at Drummond Island quarryTarget Q3 2026Current milestone.
Extended agreement with Fortescue through 2030sMar 2026Complete.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Q3 2026Carmeuse deployment at Drummond Island quarry (next)
Q4 2026Carmeuse quarry deployment begins

Current obstacles

Site-specific training and calibrationEach mine requires weeks of mapping and calibration. Changing pit layouts require continuous updates.
Regulatory acceptance in new jurisdictionsMining safety rules are set by each country and mine. Regulators and mine operators are cautious about automated equipment; approval is slow in some markets.

Physics limits

GPS signal loss in pit bottoms and undergroundHigh-precision DGPS requires a clear line of sight to satellites. Deep pits and underground mining block the signal, forcing the truck into manual mode.
Sensor resolution limits obstacle detection rangeRadar and LiDAR see within a few hundred metres. At high speeds on large haul roads, the truck may not have enough time to stop if an obstacle appears at the sensor horizon.

How it works

3 parts

Navigation

DGPS with obstacle detection

High-precision GPS locates the truck; radar and LiDAR detect obstacles and feed real-time data to fleet management.

Dispatch

Central fleet management

MineStar dispatches trucks to loaders, manages job queues, and optimizes truck utilization and haul cycles.

Coordination

Safe operation with manned equipment

The system communicates with manned loaders and other equipment via radio and proximity sensors, maintaining geofences and speed limits to prevent collisions.

Spec sheet

Spec	MineStar Command for Hauling
Current mine deployments	17 locations^R (reported)
Customer companies	9 mining operators^R (reported)
Geographic reach	3 continents (NA, SA, Australia)^R (reported)
Autonomous trucks at Fortescue	137 trucks (Cat 789D, Cat 793F, Komatsu 930E)^R (reported)
Total material moved	3+ billion metric tons^R (reported)
Reported productivity gain	Up to 30% higher utilization^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Peer comparison

Mining & off-road autonomy peers

Spec	MineStar Command for Hauling	Komatsu Ltd. FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System
Current mine deployments	17 locations^R (reported)	23 mine sites^R (reported)
Total material moved	3+ billion metric tons^R (reported)	11.5+ billion metric tons^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

4 updates

About Caterpillar Inc.

The team behind MineStar Command for Hauling

Caterpillar Inc.

Mining equipment, MineStar Command autonomous haulage

Caterpillar is the world's largest construction and mining equipment manufacturer, founded in 1925. Based in Peoria, Illinois with 118,000 employees and $70.75B revenue (2026), Cat provides MineStar Command, the leading autonomous haulage system deployed at 17 mines worldwide.

MineStar Command has moved 3+ billion metric tons since 2012, making it the longest-running commercial autonomous haulage system.
Deployed at 17 locations with 9 customers across North America, South America, and Australia; customers report 30% productivity gains.
In May 2026, Carmeuse signed to deploy Command across 777 trucks at Drummond Island quarry in Michigan.

cat.com (opens cat.com)Company profile →

Founded: 1925101 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Listed: CAT (opens google.com)NYSE
Valuation: public
Staff: ~118,000Jun 2026
Works in: VehiclesMining & off-road autonomy
Coverage: 1 program · 4 updateslatest 1 Jun 2026checked 10 Oct
Customers: Fortescue Metals Group (opens fortescuemetals.com.au)Carmeuse (opens carmeuse.com)
People: Joseph E. CreedCEO and Chairman

Spec

MineStar Command for Hauling

Current mine deployments

17 locations^R (reported)

Customer companies

9 mining operators^R (reported)

Geographic reach

3 continents (NA, SA, Australia)^R (reported)

Autonomous trucks at Fortescue

137 trucks (Cat 789D, Cat 793F, Komatsu 930E)^R (reported)

Total material moved

3+ billion metric tons^R (reported)

Reported productivity gain

Up to 30% higher utilization^R (reported)

Spec

MineStar Command for Hauling

Komatsu Ltd. FrontRunner Autonomous Haulage System

Current mine deployments

17 locations^R (reported)

23 mine sites^R (reported)

Total material moved

3+ billion metric tons^R (reported)

11.5+ billion metric tons^R (reported)

MineStar Command for Hauling

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

DGPS with obstacle detection

Central fleet management

Safe operation with manned equipment

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Jun 2026

May 2026

Mar 2026

2012

About Caterpillar Inc.

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

DGPS with obstacle detection

Central fleet management

Safe operation with manned equipment

Spec sheet

Peer comparison

Update log

Jun 2026

May 2026

Mar 2026

2012

About Caterpillar Inc.