Use Cases

Tribe Tech

Tribe Tech is a Perth and Northern Ireland-based technology company at the forefront of mining automation, having dedicated the last five years to developing a groundbreaking fully autonomous reverse circulation (RC) drilling system.

The comprehensive project goes beyond the drill rig itself, encompassing integrated sampling systems, sophisticated control systems, and advanced telemetry capabilities. The company has secured a significant partnership with McKay Drilling to deploy its first system at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine site, marking a pivotal moment in mining technology advancement.

While autonomous drilling for blast holes has been established in the mining industry for around a decade, Tribe Tech’s innovation represents the first autonomous system specifically designed with safety in mind for geological sample collection.

Tribe Tech’s system has been designed to drill to impressive depths of up to 700 metres, managing multiple 6-metre drill rods and complex rod-changing operations but the real value in this autonomous system is removing the need for people to collect the samples, eliminating safety risks from breathing dust and other manual handling. This innovative approach to automation prioritises worker safety while maintain the precision required for geological sampling.

The Challenge

Tribe Tech encountered significant challenges in testing and refining its autonomous drilling system prior to deployment in active mining operations. The primary obstacle lay in the limitations of testing within operational mine sites, particularly in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia. These active mining environments offered extremely restricted testing windows due to ongoing production pressures, essentially providing the team with just a single opportunity to test the prototype equipment on each mine site trip.

The constraints of testing in operational mines created a cumbersome and inefficient development cycle. If modifications were needed – which was often the case with the prototypes – the team had to completely demobilise from the site, transport the equipment back to Perth, implement necessary adjustments, and then wait for another opportunity to return to the mine for further testing. This cycle was not only time-consuming, but also resource-intensive, significantly extending the development timeline of the innovative drilling system.

The challenge was further complicated by the complexity of the sampling system itself. The team needed to ensure the system could collect unbiased, representative samples that would meet the stringent requirements of geologists. This demanded extensive testing to verify sample quality and consistency, a process that proved particularly difficult within the constraints of active mine site testing windows. Tribe Tech urgently required a testing environment that would allow them to thoroughly validate both the operational capabilities and safety features of their system, while maintaining the flexibility to make adjustments and improvements based on testing results.

 Solution

Tribe Tech engaged with the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in January 2024, implementing a comprehensive two-phase testing strategy. The first phase focused on developing and refining the sampling system through a simulated drilling environment. This controlled setting allowed the Tribe Tech team to process known materials and verify sample quality without the complexities of actual drilling operations, enabling them to concentrate specifically on the sampling mechanisms and their effectiveness.

The second phase, which commenced in September 2024, marked a significant advancement in testing capabilities. With the arrival of the drill rig, the AARP facility granted permission for drilling operations up to 60 metres deep on site, providing genuine drilling conditions for comprehensive testing. This phase encompassed extensive evaluation of the telemetry and control systems, crucial components that enable the rig’s sophisticated capability to operate remotely from distances of up to 5 kilometres.

The AARP facility provided Tribe Tech with unprecedented flexibility in its testing approach. Unlike the rigid constraints of mine site testing, the team could freely modify and adjust the equipment as needed. The facility’s support extended beyond simply providing space – the AARP accommodated various testing requirements, from setting up industrial scale generators to managing different equipment configurations. This adaptable testing environment allowed Tribe Tech to expand beyond the initial test bed area into its own dedicated testing space, demonstrating the facility’s commitment to supporting Tribe Tech’s evolving needs and the scope of the testing operations.

Results

The testing program at AARP has delivered remarkable outcomes for Tribe Tech by dramatically accelerating the development timeline for the autonomous drilling system. The most significant achievement was accomplishing within six weeks what would have traditionally taken more than six months of remote mine site testing. This extraordinary acceleration in development has built substantial confidence in the system’s capabilities, leading to the successful deployment of the sampling system to the Pilbara region.

The controlled testing environment provided by AARP proved invaluable for ensuring the highest standards of sample quality. Tribe Tech was able to conduct thorough testing to verify that the system was not introducing any bias into the sampling process – a critical requirement for geological analysis. The ability to make immediate adjustments and rapidly test modifications has significantly reduced the risk of operational issues during actual mine site deployment.

The success of the testing program was further enhanced by the facility’s supportive infrastructure and team. The AARP staff, particularly noted for their flexibility and problem-solving approach, never declined a testing requirement and consistently found ways to accommodate Tribe Tech’s evolving needs. This collaborative environment enabled the company to progress from initial testing phases to more complex operational scenarios, including the integration of various equipment and power systems.

The culmination of this extensive testing will result in a system that will be ready for real-world deployment, with initial results from the Pilbara installation expected within weeks of deployment. This successful transition from testing to operational deployment demonstrates the effectiveness of AARP’s testing facilities in bridging the gap between prototype development and practical implementation.

“The team at AARP has been brilliant to work with throughout our journey. Their approach to supporting innovation has been exceptional – they have consistently offered us tremendous flexibility and adapted to our changing needs. Over the past 12 months, our testing requirements have varied significantly. Some months we weren’t on site at all, while others required large scale generators and extensive equipment setups. What stands out is their proactive, solution-focused attitude – they’ve never once said no to our requests and have consistently found ways to help us achieve our testing objectives. The facility’s location, combined with the amount of land available and the supportive team has created the perfect environment for our development work. They have truly been fantastic partners in helping us bring this innovative technology to life.” – Derek Loughlin, Tribe Tech