A new world-class Australian automation and robotics testing facility serving the mining sector is continuing to expand as a range of organisations, from Tier 1 miners to startups, increasingly utilise the site outside Perth.

The Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) was established by the WA Government with a goal to create a collaborative environment that nurtures the development of cutting-edge technologies and techniques to accelerate sector-wide growth and competitiveness.

Test and development activity at the site ramped up significantly in 2023 and is set to continue to grow in 2024 with the opening of the Precinct Headquarters later this year.
Automation and robotics in Australia’s mining sector is expected to add $74b and create 80,000 new jobs by 2030 and the 51ha site in Perth’s northern suburbs is already playing a key role in the sector’s transformative process.

AARP’s national project lead Tamryn Barker says initial interest and uptake has been positive with one Perth-based robotics startup undertaking its first paid trial with a Tier 1 miner following a successful testing programme at the Neerabup centre, about 35km north of Perth.

“This is a big deal, being able to validate significant new technologies with customers at the site and derisk the process on both sides,” she said.

Industry uptake

The startup, an emerging WA hard tech developer specialising in designing and manufacturing automated robots to improve productivity and safety in the mining sector, was able to showcase its tech at the AARP in real-world conditions instead of conducting demonstrations at a Queensland mine site.

As an early-stage startup, utilising the AARP provided the company with low-cost access to test beds, as well as facilitated engagement with potential customers and opportunities to showcase its products at monthly Demo Days at the site, according to Ms Barker.

HydraTune chief financial officer Peter Campbell says his company, a remote hydraulic tuning company, is also realising the benefits of the AARP beyond the ability to test and develop technology at the site.

“To collaborate with other companies and access world-class facilities so close to the city, is so valuable to us,” he said.

The collaborative aspect extends beyond startups comparing notes, with established operations and Tier 1 miners increasingly utilising the AARP.

Hexagon is another high-profile company taking advantages of the WA location and onsite testing facilities offered by the AARP.

Hexagon VP Asia Simon Stone says the company is excited to be part of the AARP.

“We’ve done testing and a demonstration here with Mineral Resources to their investors and the media which went super well,” he said.

“When you introduce autonomy and innovation like this into an organisation we need to take people along for the journey. Creating that right culture, creating a feeling of excitement for this innovation is really important. “And this is a great facility to help you everyone is learning here. This is where we’re going to develop what we need, for these machines to be able to make decisions on their own and operate safely, and importantly, to get the hours up to ensure people are comfortable with the tech and to bullet-proof it from a safety and robustness point of view.”

“As announced in July 2023 by our chief executive Paulo Guglielmini, our project with Mineral Resources is the largest single contract Hexagon has ever done,” he said.

“We are seriously investing inside WA, having recently opened up a new office in the Perth CBD to accommodate 150 staff and establishing a substantial light industrial facility with around 30 specialist autonomous staff close to the AARP. So why WA? The iron ore industry in WA is really well-established. But the ore bodies that are now available are further apart.
The economics of taking drivers out of the cab is transformative. It makes dirt that was of no economic value, really valuable. “And especially as there are no drivers available, this brings opportunity for creating new, high-value jobs.”

“The disruptive technology of light touch, long haul transport of iron ore is creating an economic resource in Western Australia that wasn’t there before and is opening up new revenue streams for the State to invest in schools and communities. This technology has applications across Australia. It has applications across industry, including mining, military and agriculture.”

Ideal location

Australia is already a world leader in the application of industrial robotics and automation technology, with the Pilbara region of WA home to almost 75% of autonomous trucks operating globally and the world’s largest and longest autonomous trains hauling iron ore from pits to ports.

Leveraging this momentum, the AARP provides companies from diverse industries with seamless access to an innovative environment, essential tools, and comprehensive training required to develop, test, and showcase automation and robotics products and processes.
Launched in October 2021 by DevelopmentWA, the AARP, part of the WA Government’s Diversify WA strategic framework and operated by CORE Innovation Hubunder the management of DevelopmentWA since 2022, provides six test bed environments which allow companies and researchers an opportunity to accelerate industrial technology development by testing and scaling without interrupting normal production activities, in addition to other facilities.

Multiple test beds

The AARP test landscape suits a range of needs along the mining value chain, in particular exploration and discovery, drill and material movement. The largest test bed, the Dirt Lab Innovation Mine spans over 220,000m2 and has been designed to facilitate activity in these areas:

• Develop: use the test beds to develop and test new mining technologies, such as automation and robotics systems, before real-world deployment in operations.

• Demonstrate: use the test beds and facilities to demonstrate and train customers on the capabilities and benefits of their existing products, helping to increase sales and market penetration.

• Commission: use the test beds and leasehold lots to commission, optimise and integrate new equipment into their operations, reducing risk and increasing efficiency and productivity.

• Train & Educate: use the Precinct as an industry training hub and where universities can conduct research and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students, giving them exposure to cutting-edge mining technologies and techniques and embedding PhDs in industry projects.

The AARP are also shaping up a collaborative New Energy Zone, which will host infrastructure and activity co-designed with industry. This will include advancing work on the transformative role of automation and electrification; a development ecosystem for robotics and renewable capability with a solar array installation and maintenance area and charging infrastructure for industrial vehicles and energy storage and distribution. In turn, the New Energy Zone will support off-grid capacity to power other users across the precinct, for a truly sustainable hub and catalyst for green tech innovation in heavy industries and beyond.

Other test beds include a Flex Zone for flexible and adaptable technologies in various applications, including drone and smaller ground-going robot operations; a Heavy Zone with a bunded perimeter for safe testing of heavy vehicles and large field robotics; an Urban Zone with a test track to help accelerate the pace of urban and light industrial mobility and safety systems and solutions and a large technology showcase area for curated demonstrations and open days, bringing customers and stakeholders close to emerging technologies.

The future of AARP

Over the next three years, the AARP will be further developed, with a state-of-the-art Common User Facility operation building, research and development facilities such as laboratories and design co-labs, and advanced test beds with multiple areas and roadways for physical testing.

Construction is also underway on the Precinct Headquarters, expected to be completed mid this year.

The flagship building will feature coworking offices, research, development, and display areas.

It will also include laboratories, training and workshop facilities accessible to users, partners, and guests, and will be powered by emission-free solar power connected to a battery and microgrid network.

Leasehold lots are currently available on-site for test activities which provide direct access to the test bed areas and can be used for equipment laydown or storage.

The AARP, one of the biggest facilities of its kind in the world, also hosts monthly Demo Days to allow potential users and industry stakeholders to learn more about the project and technological developments.

To find out more visit: https://www.theaarp.com.au/

The post Future-facing facility – The future of Australian mining is taking Shape at WA’s new high-tech testing centre appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Life as we know it has accelerated at an unprecedented pace. A malleable approach and the capacity for dynamic adaptability is more important than ever before. In a world where advanced technological conversions require strategic integration and methodical systemic application, the more personal aspects of this operating shift may be often overlooked.

Encompassing a myriad of complexities, the transition towards an automated future is typically geared towards the mechanical efficiency aspect, whilst losing sight of the profound human factors involved in such an industrious evolution.

Although there’s no doubt that our automated technologies possess an impressive degree of self-sufficiency and inherent independent ability, the bottom line is that these applications also demand effective manual inputs to actualise optimal functionality into fruition.

Autonomous technologies should be interpreted as a defined sensitive calculation, precisely reacting with prescribed techniques to external stimuli.

The Autonomous Haulage System (AHS), or “calculator”, will render performance outcomes synonymous with the quality, accuracy, and suitability of the human inputs and instruction, with comprehensive consideration for the physical realm in which this virtual industrial lifeforce exists.

This, at its core, forms the basis for many of the challenges the mining industry faces, and its transformation into the realm of automated technologies today.

One company challenging the status quo is Absolute Autonomous. The company’s approach to automation and robotics integration in mining operations specialises in the intersection of the human interaction with technology and system functionality. They are committed to building the next generation of mining by taking the safety, productivity, and efficiency of autonomous success to new heights.

Absolute Autonomous Senior Consultant Cloey MacDonald said that technology advancements typically come with added complexity, which means many mine workers often feel displaced and pushed aside in lieu of the new-found virtual employee.

“After honing their skills and building their knowledge base through dedication over many years, the automation shift can have a detrimental impact on workers’ mental health,” she said. “That’s where Absolute Autonomous plays its part by taking a more holistic and sensitive approach to the integration of AHS within mining operations.”

Empowering the autonomous journey ahead

Absolute Autonomous has been directly involved with more than 19 successful AHS deployments in some of the world’s most challenging environments, from the remote Australian Pilbara to the freezing Andes Mountains and desolate Atacama Desert. Being internationally mobile has afforded them a rich and diverse range of experience, working across a wide variety of minerals resources for both small scale deployments and large AHS operations alike.

The company is focused on three core pillars – AHS mining processes, skills and knowledge, and culture. The team is distinctly passionate about creating positive and sustainable change, by empowering their customers throughout the complex and multifaceted transition into the technological age.

Absolute Autonomous are not only subject matter experts in the field of AHS applications, but bring decades of hands-on, practical operational experience and real-world context to every interaction. With no direct affiliation with any one AHS manufacturer, they offer an honest and independent perspective.

MacDonald explained the importance of understanding the challenges faced by mining companies, and the role they play within this new-found way of working.

“In order to best support mines on their journey to a safe, successful, and sustainable autonomous haulage operation, you need to start from the ground up. Putting people first is key to unlocking exceptional performance from the AHS within the broader operation.”

“We’re committed to providing our clients with ongoing support, invaluable coaching, and expert guidance throughout the duration of their AHS deployments, ensuring they achieve sustainable, tangible results,” she said.

A personalised approach to AHS operational performance

By understanding that every business has complex needs, different constraints, and diverse capabilities, Absolute Autonomous put an emphasis on tailoring custom solutions for mining companies with both small and large-scale AHS operations.

Absolute Autonomous offers a suite of unique services including the Absolute Autonomous Future State range, which sets itself apart from your standard AHS performance reviews. Going above and beyond, Absolute Autonomous approach their diagnostics holistically, explaining that there is always more to the story than meets the eye.

“Data can only tell us so much. To fully understand the restrictions on an AHS operation, you need to observe the system in action and understand the interaction with it on site,” said MacDonald.

Unlike other companies, the Future State packages not only expertly identify and diagnose AHS inefficiencies, but take it to a whole new level.

Absolute Autonomous are unlocking the next generation of AHS performance, by providing mine sites with customised solutions for optimising the performance, safety, and culture of their AHS operation. They provide clients with personalised AHS improvement roadmaps, designed for their specific mining environment, appropriate system, and operational conditions.

“Sustainable change does not happen overnight. We empower our customers by outlining each fundamental step required to achieve their goals, highlight projected outcomes, supporting them with expert knowledge and guidance along the way”.

Absolute Autonomous encourages a strong focus on collaboration and knowledge sharing, acting as a conduit to help companies generate sustainable value from their people at a granular level. We incorporate past learnings and experience from their own site personnel into our initiatives, ensuring this education can be replicated and transferred long-term.

“We essentially coach our clients towards a more productive and efficient AHS operation, drawing upon our proven catalogue of best practice knowledge curated over decades of operational trial and error, and practical experience,” said MacDonald.

“Whether its Run-of-Mine/crusher throughput, high yield dump management strategies, mine planning design specifications, loading unit & ancillary operator AHS tips and tricks, or AHS controller best practice guides, clients will benefit from our rich and diverse practical experience and capabilities.”

“We evaluate AHS fleet performance, historical production limitations, conduct virtual road network audits and outline the impacts, AHS constraint recognition and monitoring techniques, AHS configuration and speed settings, as well as AHS simulator training and integration. We address the people and culture aspect, highlighting any observations around collaboration and leadership, KPI’s and metrics, AHS transition maturity guides, as well as individual skillset and proficiency evaluation”.

The company also creates personalised site-owned proficiency training packages aligned to current knowledge gaps within an AHS operation, for either specific roles, key personnel, or site-wide awareness initiatives. With no bias to any one OEM and having worked intimately with all the leading autonomous haulage systems, customers can be assured the recommendations and coaching delivered will be solely based on improving their clients bottom line.

Proven Results

In 2023, Absolute Autonomous assisted Antofagasta Minerals’ Centinela Mine in Chile to unlock the dormant value within their AHS operation. With a team embedded locally, and within a period of three months, Centinela Mine reached record breaking outcomes. By conducting careful observations and meticulously analysing 12 months of weekly & monthly shift reports, they were able to clearly outline the opportunities and demonstrate the potential uplift for their client.

Working closely with the teams onsite, Absolute Autonomous enabled a breakthrough in material throughput, truck speeds and AHS fleet efficiency, equipment utilisation and overall productivity, as well as seeing a reduction in truck stoppages, cycle times and AHS disruptions.

Accumulatively, the optimisations suggested by Absolute Autonomous unlocked a projected 47.04% improvement in cycle times over a 12-month period for the mine. By making just one simple adjustment to the AHS dump settings, Centinela saw a 34 second cycle time improvement and a 10km/h average increase in truck speed across the mine. Adjustments were carried out on haul route AHS static courses with one CDS hot spot seeing the average truck speed jump from 34km/h to 50 km/h overnight. Attention was given to the AHS crusher location configuration, with a single individual adjustment enabling a throughput improvement of 500,000 tonnes per year.

Providing recommendations around operator proficiency training, roads and intersection improvements, mine planning and design standards, dump management optimisation, equipment configurations and AHS best practices, Absolute Autonomous offered detailed solutions to the hidden limitations that were hindering Centinela’s AHS performance.

By encouraging creative thinking and a ‘think outside the box’ approach to the AHS functionality, the team at Centinela Mine were inspired to proactively design efficient and productive ways of working in the future. Through daily skills coaching and knowledge sharing, Absolute Autonomous were proud to leave Chile knowing they had empowered their customer with the tools and resources required to sustain an efficient AHS operation long-term.

AHS Mate

The latest product release from Absolute Autonomous is the AHS Mate platform. This revolutionary application focuses on enabling the critical performance uplift and safety improvements for every AHS operation.

It’s essentially a next level learning platform and performance optimisation tool that aims to enhance the skillset and knowledge of operators to exponentially unlock efficiency and productivity in a modern AHS mining environment.

“We’ve developed a series of online learning programs and benefit calculators to expand the system functionality proficiency and utilisation from the four main AHS mine site roles,” said MacDonald.

“Focusing on central controllers, pit patrollers, loading unit operators, and AHS operation leadership personnel from the supervisory level upwards.”

“The AHS Mate platform not only has a suite of AHS optimisation courses, but extensive online training guides are available that support AHS key personnel in their learning journey. These can be used as how-to-guides when completing advanced virtual mine design and performance audits, as well as general day to day improvements.”

The unique mobile and PC application-based improvement tool seamlessly provides quantitative data on constraint analysis and predicted throughput increase, offering targeted solutions to mine site personnel including access to comprehensive best practices, AHS shift handover notes, detailed checklists, and pre-shift safety & situational communication effectiveness guides.

MacDonald said the AHS Mate platform is an improvement calculator in your pocket.

“It empowers your people with the context and information they need to understand the impact of current AHS bottlenecks. AHS Mate quantifies potential production uplift from optimising the virtual road network in real-time. This promotes informed decision making, streamlines skills acquisition, and provides context to every improvement”.

In a world first, the AHS Mate platform is supporting mining companies globally to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve their long-term net-zero targets.

“It features a carbon emissions calculator, highlighting the positive reduction of harmful greenhouse gases with each road network improvement at your site. It also quantifies the reduced CO2 footprint at your mine with every step you take towards creating a more efficient haulage operation.”

For more information, visit www.absoluteautonomous.com/

The post Maximising Autonomous Haulage System performance through operational knowhow appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Although starting out in the competitive and price sensitive world of agriculture, Universal Field Robots (UFR), has become synonymous with mining. Its early innovations in lawn-mowing robots and avocado picking laid the foundation for a more innovative approach to technology as it transitioned into other industrial segments. The company’s commitment to technological advancement led to the introduction of UFRautonomy, a reflection of the continuous evolution in its architecture and technology stack.

UFR has quickly gained recognition as an R&D leader in the field of robotics and automation, facilitating its expansion across several industries including mining, solar farm construction, and defence.

The partnership with Newmont Cadia marked a significant milestone, one that resulted in the development of an automated Bobcat Skid Steer with an integrated EPIROC safety system. This successful collaboration not only set a new standard for interoperability in the industry, but highlighted UFR’s exceptional integration skills and ability to make any OEM platform or machine autonomous.

A successive partnership with IMDEX saw the development of BLAST DOG, an autonomous system for multi-parameter measurement of blast holes. This showcased UFR’s strategic approach of utilising proven and robust platforms, notably the two-tonne Caterpillar excavator as the basis for their robots.

Leveraging ROS/ROS2 as the core robotics software development platform, UFR streamlined development processes and introduced the concept of OEM-agnostic integration. This approach allowed UFR to rapidly develop and deploy autonomous solutions across different industries, further strengthening its position as a leader in the field of robotics and automation.

The role of interoperability in mining automation

The latest industry data highlights Australia’s mining industry accounts for 14.3 percent of GDP, and contributed A$455 billion in export revenue in the 2022-23 financial year. It’s therefore no surprise that companies are embracing automation and new technologies to improve the performance of their assets.

“The accelerated shift into robotics and automation by Australia’s miners has been in response to the fact their operations are typically situated in remote locations, which presents additional challenges in the area of digital connectivity and integration,” said UFR Managing Director Jeff Sterling.

“Automation, digitisation, and integration initiatives are now at the forefront of most mining companies’ technological roadmaps. Interoperability is a necessity in order to achieve success, and building an interoperable future can only be solved via strategic collaboration and communication.”

Autonomous mining equipment, such as drills, require constant communications. Given the remoteness and distributed nature of most mine sites, poor connectivity or potential failure can result in costly downtime.

Autonomous teleremote tracked machines such as robots that act as a radio point of presence can drive to a location on the mining bench to support autonomous drills. Once they reach the target location, the machine establishes a high bandwidth microwave data link with the mine network and extends a tall mast to rebroadcast radio coverage to the drills. When a blast is scheduled, the machine can drive from the bench to a safe place away from the blast. The robots can also be fitted with a pan tilt zoom camera on the mast, allowing remote control room operators to observe activity from a high vantage point and ensure the safety and security of their drilling machinery and operations.

UFR’s suite of autonomous capabilities, from autonomous haulage and mission planning to object detection and collision avoidance, play a critical role in its transformation into OEM agnostic and interoperable automation.

In 2022, Gold Fields sought an automation partner with interoperability capabilities and an industry-leading technology stack. Despite a competitive field that included top-tier OEMs and well-established technology suppliers offering teleremote solutions, UFR proved the partner of choice.

Mr Sterling explained that their comprehensive technology stack coupled with robust engineering capabilities were a powerful combination in Gold Fields’ decision-making process.

“Our ability to deliver a tailored OEM Agnostic offering aligned perfectly with their specific operational requirements,” he said. “This collaboration underscored our reputation as a leader in the field, with a broad capability to deliver cutting-edge technologies and expertise that meets the evolving demands of the mining industry.”

However, the transition to autonomy faces a number of obstacles like limited availability and compatibility among OEMs. Challenges include limited autonomy options, brand-specific solutions hindering interoperability, proprietary software restricting integration, complex and costly integration processes, and vendor lock-in stifling innovation.

As a result, customers are seeking out open platforms for flexibility. And addressing these challenges requires collaboration among OEMs, technology providers, and customers in order to develop standardised interfaces, protocols, and integration frameworks that facilitate seamless interoperability and compatibility across autonomous systems.

Open standards and modular architectures can help mitigate vendor lock-in and provide customers flexibility in the selection and integration of best-of-breed autonomy solutions that meet their specific requirements and preferences.

“UFR serves as the ‘interoperable glue’ connecting OEM vehicles to autonomous systems across many OEMs and tech providers,” added Mr Sterling.

“Our unique expertise integrating OEM vehicles that enables autonomy and connects them to other operation enabling technologies, we provide seamless interoperability and bridge the gap between disparate systems.

“By adopting an open architecture approach, we facilitate this integration via a range of autonomous systems and coordination software. Our modular solutions allow easy integration into existing infrastructure, which reduce complexity and disruption.”

ESG and Autonomy

Integrated digital technology not only enables operators to make faster decisions but also aids assets in achieving Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) objectives by reducing their carbon footprint. Research indicates that incorporating autonomous truck fleets can yield a 10-15 percent emissions reduction, primarily through route optimisation, speed control, and fuel efficiency enhancement.

• Optimised Routes: Real-time data analysis by autonomous systems identifies the most efficient transport routes within mine sites.
• Consistent Speeds: Autonomous trucks maintain steady speeds and acceleration, enhancing fuel efficiency compared to human-driven vehicles.
• Energy Management: Autonomous systems optimise energy strategies like regenerative braking, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
• Dynamic Fleet Management: Autonomous fleets adjust to production demand, minimising idle time and emissions.
• Predictive Maintenance: Real-time monitoring detects maintenance issues early, improving vehicle performance and reducing emissions.

Underground Autonomous Haulage

Gold Fields sought an interoperable, OEM-agnostic automation solution to upgrade their Epiroc MT65 underground haul trucks and integrate with other site-based technologies. Leveraging UFRautonomy, the first automated truck achieved line-of-sight teleremote capability within 5 weeks, progressing to Technology Readiness Level 7 over seven months.

After a successful factory acceptance test, fine-tuning took place over a two-month period. The truck underwent underground testing, and refinement with UFR’s adaptable UFRautonomy system, which facilitated rapid integration of enhanced perception sensors. Scheduled autonomous material haulage is expected by Q2 2024.

“Our project with Gold Fields is advancing at a steady pace,” said Mr Sterling. Preparations for installing three additional trucks are currently underway and we’re targeting completion by Q3 2024.

UFR’s future roadmap incorporates the launch of autonomous haulage over shift change and the development of a robot orchestration system for coordinating underground autonomous trucks.

UFR AutoPrep

As the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions intensifies, the mining industry faces unprecedented challenges in meeting heightened demand for resources while prioritising safety and efficiency.

To address this gap, UFR is pioneering the development of UFR AutoPrep, the world’s first automated production drillhole preparation and survey robot. By leveraging the state-of-the-art UFRautonomy stack, the company is transforming a traditionally labour-intensive process into a streamlined, safer operation.

UFR have partnered with Gold Fields to pilot, refine and develop the hole preparation and survey solution, and in the future it will extend the robot’s capabilities to encompass initiation system placement and charging.

“AutoPrep’s beachhead market are sites with challenging conditions such as high temperatures, unstable ground conditions, high silica dust or high lead content,” said Mr Sterling.

“The technology plays a pivotal role in improving operational efficiency and safety in mining operations. By reducing the personnel required for the task from three to just one operator, it optimises resource allocation and minimises labour costs.”

Operators also benefit from greater comfort and safety measures, starting in air-conditioned cabs and transitioning to air-conditioned offices behind a control desk. This not only ensures a conducive working environment, but underscores UFR’s commitment to prioritising the wellbeing of its operators.

After two years of intensive design, development, and iterative refinement, coupled with extensive field testing and comprehensive operator feedback, UFR have reached a significant milestone in their journey. Drawing upon invaluable performance data and insights, the team are now building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).

“Our MVP design concept is based on a CAT wheel loader as its foundation,” said  Mr Sterling. “This choice speeds up tramming times and extends the reach of our solution, all of which enhancing operational efficiency. This culmination of research, iterative development, and real-world testing, positions us at the forefront of innovation in the mining industry.”

UFR have secured their first trial site for 2025, and are seeking additional customers to participate in site trials. The company’s roadmap includes the integration of an appropriate survey tool into their solution. By leveraging survey data, UFR can augment the value proposition to customers by providing insights into blast hole deviations and enhancing orebody knowledge.

Autonomous placement of the initiation system and autonomous charging of blast holes are significant advancements in UFR’s journey ahead. By integrating autonomous technology into these critical processes, the company aims to revolutionise the blasting workflow, streamline operations, and increase precision, while minimising human intervention.

UFR AutoFuel

The Australian Defence Force is confronted with manual infield refuelling processes that carry significant risks and inefficiencies, which compromises personnel safety and consume valuable operational time. Addressing these challenges and bolster safety protocols requires direct human involvement in such hazardous tasks to be minimised.

An effective solution is AutoFuel, which is an advanced autonomous refuelling system developed in collaboration with ECLIPS Logistics. It eliminates the need for military personnel to engage in refuelling tasks by leveraging computer vision, machine learning and the use of UFRautonomy technology.

After a comprehensive market research study, coupled with thorough evaluation of various industrial robotic arm solutions, UFR embarked on developing its own hydraulic arm capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions.

“While precise movement posed a challenge, our engineers developed a hydraulic arm capable of remarkable accuracy and agility,” said Mr Sterling. “It boasts an impressive capacity to endure heavier workloads compared to off-the-shelf industrial robotic arms of similar size, which offers new levels of durability and performance in demanding operational environments.”

He added that the next phase of UFR’s development involves refining the hydraulic arm and subjecting it to rigorous field testing in collaboration with the defence industry.

“This strategic initiative aims to validate the arm’s performance and durability in real-world scenarios, ensuring its readiness to meet the specific requirements of military operations. Partnering with the defence industry for field testing is testament to our commitment to delivering a reliable and robust solution that meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.”

UFR are currently assessing the market potential for deploying AutoFuel in refuelling applications within mining operations. The company has been approached by key mining stakeholders to adapt its hydraulic arm for handling large batteries in Battery Electric Vehicles. This involves collaborating with Tier 1 companies to progress the initial scoping stage for each solution, a move that underscores the diversification of its solutions aligned to the evolving needs of the industry.

For more information, email hello@universalfieldrobots.com.au or visit https://universalfieldrobots.com.au/

The post Universal Field Robots – Australia’s Robotics and Automation R&D Powerhouse appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Jean Ferreira (left) and Aaron Locke, (founders of RaptorTech) at a recent commissioning of a Raptor Data Centre, an independently powered mine-wide private LTE (4G) network.From the distant echoes of 17th century experiments to the pulsating digital realms of today, telemetry has etched its mark on the annals of innovation. Its story is one of relentless evolution, fuelled by human ingenuity and the quest for remote connectivity. Imagine early scientists tinkering with rudimentary forms of remote communication, laying the groundwork for what would become the backbone of modern telemetry. Fast forward to the tumultuous battlegrounds of World War II, where telemetry emerged as a silent sentinel, guiding weapons systems and tracking missiles with unparalleled precision. Then came the space age, where telemetry became the lifeline of astronauts, bridging the gap between Earth and the cosmos.

As the 20th century unfolded, advancements in electronics propelled telemetry into new frontiers, empowering industries from aerospace to medicine with real-time data transmission and control. With the dawn of the digital revolution, telemetry shed its mechanical shackles, embracing wireless communication and ushering in an era of unprecedented connectivity.

Looking into the future, the mining industry stands poised on the brink of a technological renaissance, leveraging the capabilities of telemetry to unlock new opportunities in efficiency and safety. Mines where every movement is monitored and optimised in real-time, where equipment maintenance is predictive rather than reactive, and where safety is not just a goal but a fundamental principle. This is the logical future that telemetry promises—a future where RaptorTech thrives on the cutting-edge of innovation, propelled by the transformative power of technology.

Nestled in Perth, Western Australia, amidst the bustling landscape of rugged terrain and rich mineral deposits, RaptorTech, a small mining technology business, has taken on the challenge of delivering solutions to the entire mining industry. They harness the potency of telemetry to reshape the landscape of fleet management and collision avoidance/prevention.

RaptorOS Fleet Management

Enter RaptorOS Fleet Management Solution, a technological breakthrough that harnesses the power of telemetry to revolutionise fleet management, providing fully immersive, real-time insights and driving operational excellence. RaptorOS has been designed to help operations become safer, more productive, and more profitable. Real-time data can be pulled from virtually any mining or industrial machine, enabling exceptionally informed operational decision-making, material tracking, and production reporting.

Jean Ferreira, co-founder and director of RaptorTech, explained the benefits of its new fleet management and collision avoidance/prevention products and how the technology is presented in a suite of features designed to optimise efficiency, enhance safety, and maximise productivity.

“RaptorCore, the telemetry platform central to our products, features an integrated HPGPS proximity awareness system that provides immersive safety awareness through real-time visualization of the 3D mine environment,” he said.

“Multi-sensor telemetry gives operators, supervisors, superintendents and management greater visibility over driving behaviour. Based on real-time values like speed, proximity, and gear selection, operators will receive alerts for any imminent failures. Operations will also benefit from full 3D spatial playback, which enables comprehensive incident investigation and review, as well as a traffic flow heatmap feature that identifies high-risk interaction zones, further improving safety protocols and accident prevention measures.”

From a productivity perspective, RaptorOS leverages automated activity categorisation using peer-to-peer, machine data, and GPS positioning, which can accurately identify operational metrics, enabling targeted improvements.

Mr Ferreira said that real-time payload monitoring between trucks and diggers optimises material handling, while its dispatch application empowers supervisors to closely monitor multi-digger fleet performance and achieve targets.

“The standby categorisation feature provides insights and key metrics around shift changes and break performance, which facilitates effective management strategies. We also offer real-time reporting of excavator tonnes per hour, hang time, drill-rate for drills, payload, queue time for trucks, and fleet cycle times. This granular level of performance tracking also allows quick identification of skills gaps and training needs at the operator or crew level.”

Profitability is another core driver that is addressed by the RaptorOS platform. “Our solution allows operators to extract more product at a lower cost through more precise digging and drilling applications,” said Mr Ferreira.

“Machine guidance features for excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, and drills are focused on optimising ‘mine to plan accuracy,’ while full integration with fleet management systems and safety functions streamlines workflows.”

“Our products feature user-friendly interfaces with less clutter in the cab, consolidating multiple functions onto a single screen for ease of use,” added Mr. Ferreira. “Real-time identification of material types from design files further enhances operational efficiency, and our hoist interlock feature prevents material being dumped in the wrong locations, reducing costly errors and increasing overall profitability.”

Collision Avoidance Systems and Their Impact on Mining Operations

The implementation of collision avoidance systems has played a critical role in increasing efficiencies and profitability of mining operations. These systems enable sites to operate autonomously, which in-turn, lowers operating costs by streamlining personnel requirements and related costs.

“As collision avoidance technology has improved and matured, it has also allowed operations to increase daily running hours for improved efficiencies,” said Mr Ferreira.

“However, the key benefit that sites have seen from autonomous haulage systems and collision avoidance systems has been the significant improvement in safety. There have been fewer PFI’s linked to manually operated fleets by removing human error from the decision-making process.”

Mr. Ferreira added that functional safety redundancy is the real stand-out feature of Percept collision avoidance/prevention.

“Well before progressing to the benefits of an autonomous haulage fleet, our objective is zero vehicle/vehicle interactions and zero vehicle/personnel interactions. The Percept system offers four levels of functional safety, stereo vision, radar, peer-to-peer, and high precision GPS. Percept auto provides the LVL9 braking intervention. The system can be retrofitted to almost any piece of equipment and is OEM agnostic. The Immersive 3D visualization enables virtual mine drives for a realistic experience, and the real-time alerts keep operators and supervisors informed, improving their situational awareness,” he said.

“Historical playback supports incident investigation and facilitates post-event analysis. Additionally, the traffic flow heatmap identifies interaction risk zones, allowing for proactive risk management strategies.”

The importance of collision avoidance/prevention cannot be overstated.

“The South African Department of Mineral Resources has legislated that ALL mining equipment be fitted with LVL9 collision avoidance capability and failure to comply could result in operations being suspended. Like seatbelts in a motor vehicle, this safety measure is inevitable in the mining industry, and there are numerous countries considering their position in this regard,” said Mr Ferreira.

A Technology as a Service (TaaS) Model Approach

Now, in a world of ever-increasing costs, the race to zero emissions, and accessing lower-grade mineral deposits for raw materials needed to make green energy power generation, every last ounce of productivity must be squeezed out of an asset’s fleet. This relies heavily on accurate data to drive more informed decision-making.

“Our TaaS model helps mining operations become more integrated and cost-efficient,” said Mr Ferreira.

“We see existing technology products as capital intensive (both directly and for supporting infrastructure); however, our solutions use a TaaS model, which is designed from the ground up as a zero CAPEX solution. This consists of FMS, communications, and HPGPS, all in a single package, priced as a monthly subscription.

“Essentially, we make cutting-edge technology accessible to every mining operation. But importantly, solutions that are cost-effective, scalable, and seamlessly integrated, and easily deployed.”

Traditionally, mining has been fraught with labour-intensive tasks and inherent risks. However, RaptorTech is reshaping this narrative by leveraging telemetry’s ability to remotely measure and transmit crucial data, thereby enhancing safety and streamlining operations. Through RaptorOS and Percept, RaptorTech encapsulates the essence of telemetry, revolutionising how mining operations are managed and executed.

For more information on RaptorTech’s suite of industrial solutions, email enquiry@raptortech.com.au or visit www.raptortech.com.au/

The post RaptorTech’s Next Generation Fleet Management and Collision Avoidance Technology Set to Revolutionise Mining Operations appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.

Transitioning to a renewable economy will require a new mining industry that can extract significantly more metal from the ground to meet future demand, while operating in accordance with stricter environmental, social, and governance responsibilities. However, this is compounded by a myriad of challenges. Exploration success rates are dwindling, existing deposits are becoming deeper and more arduous to mine, and ore grades are declining.

Mining companies are collecting more data than ever, yet they struggle to maximise value to meet the greater demands placed on them. The gulf between data collection and data-driven decision-making can be significant.

In recent years, the mining industry has realised that machine learning (ML) is key to gaining the full value from its data. This transition will be critical to the massive optimisation needed to meet the world’s growing appetite for critical metals.

Datarock is one company on a mission to help miners explore and extract resources more efficiently by maximising the value of their geoscience data.

Their team of experts build and deliver solutions for mining companies that essentially ingest data and export answers by leveraging ML and cloud computing. The company is currently building out its AI geoscience platform, which will allow miners to efficiently extract information from geoscience data.

Founded in 2018, Datarock has grown to over 50 staff and garnered significant investment from IMDEX –the Australian mining technology giant.

A Geology First Company

Datarock considers itself an Ore Body Knowledge (OBK) company that’s focused on developing innovative products, which allow mining companies to increase their understanding of their deposits.

At the heart of Datarock’s geology-first mindset is their Applied Science division. This revered team of geologists, data scientists, and ML engineers represents the largest of its kind globally, one that has worked on over 200 data science projects for the world’s largest mining companies. The technical team solves some of the hardest problems in mining and exploration, building solutions and driving R&D and product development for Datarock.

Datarock Chief Geoscientist and Technologist Brenton Crawford explains how Datarock develops their technology and products.

“One of the things we identified early is that you can’t afford to make a mistake and develop a product that doesn’t ultimately deliver significant improvements and efficiencies for a customer. The work performed by our Applied Science division ensures technology development is at the forefront of scientific advancement and aligns to the practical needs of the mining sector,” he said.

Datarock has deployed a large number of ML models inside global mining companies. These models ingest geoscience data and export answers that allow miners and explorers to make data-driven decisions. The company has utilised this knowledge and experience to develop an AI platform that enables these types of workflows to be simplified, scaled, and used day in, day out.

A platform to augment and automate geological logging

Datarock’s first software offering is a SaaS solution that allows customers to upload images of drill cores to an ML platform that automatically interprets the imagery and generates high-value datasets.

Crawford explains how this solution addresses some of the long-standing inefficiencies from data collected in the coreshed.

“Traditionally, geotechnical and geological data are manually logged by geologists and geotechnical engineers.

“Manually logged datasets are plagued by inconsistency, inefficiency, and lack of an audit trail. By using computer vision (machine learning) to interpret the core imagery, we can generate similar types of data that manual logging is capable of, but without many of the pitfalls common in traditional methods”.

Datarock created its innovative ML platform to generate consistent, high-resolution and quantitative datasets from drill core imagery. This allows mining companies to augment and automate core logging practices to generate geological and geotechnical data at scale, with speed and transparency, which is impossible using traditional methods.

Crawford added that core photos are rich in geological information, and one of the most frequently collected datasets across an entire deposit, however they’re highly underutilised.

“By extracting data in this way we can really add significant value,” he said.

“This value typically presents itself to clients in three key ways. Having data with a digital audit trail allows high value decisions to be made in a transparent way. An example might be if an engineer needs to create a mine design, but the drill core data they are using has no audit trail, they may be more conservative and create a sub-optimal design. But if they can see exactly how that data was created transparently, then that might translate to significant savings for a mining client.”

Australia currently faces a geologist shortage, and operations are being asked to collect more data than ever before with fewer people available. Datarock staff can help free up mine personnel, allowing them to work on higher value tasks, leaving the head office to manage elements of data collection remotely.

“A lot of the more expensive and impactful datasets an operation collects are commonly not collected continuously due to the high cost,” said Crawford.

“Core photography is typically done on all diamond drilling, which means that if we are generating data from these images, we have the opportunity to create them across the entire deposit. We often refer to these high value full coverage datasets as foundational data.”

Datarock’s software continues to evolve rapidly, collecting and interpreting new types of geoscience data, and its next addition will be capable of analysing rock chip imagery in a similar way to drill core.

For more information on how Datarock’s Platform and Applied Science can help your business, email info@datarock.com.au or visit https://datarock.com.au/

The post Datarock unearths value by bridging the gap between data collection and data-driven decision making appeared first on The Australian Mining Review.