Boost for Queensland mining tech innovation

A Queensland company has attracted backing from Resource Capital Funds (RCF) to advance a monitoring system aimed at eliminating unnecessary human entry into mining zones. Brisbane-based robotics and data acquisition company ADR plans to launch its Explora Remote Data Acquisition System early next year. The system - using remotely deployed robots and a range of sensors - would provide the regulatory and operational data that mines needed to operate safely, productively and efficiently without having to send anyone underground, ADR said. RCF has committed an initial $2 million, plus additional milestones for further funding, through its mining innovation focused investment strategy RCF Innovation II. Image at top of page: ADR founder Dr Joe Cronin (left) and RCF partner Lyle Bruce (right) with one of the robots which will be housed inside The Explora Remote Data Acquisition System. “Every mining company has a team of geotechnical professionals and mining engineers who regularly have to travel to production areas, stop production and take measurements and conduct inspections,” ADR co-founder and chief executive officer Joe Cronin said. “You just can’t have 50-tonne trucks and loaders, which have limited visibility operating in the same area as humans. "This requires mine operators to stop production on a regular basis to get the data needed to operate the mine. “The Explora Remote Data Acquisition System can collect data while an area is in full production as it doesn’t expose humans to risk. “We believe our system will increase production time by 5-7 per cent at most mines. That’s a considerable saving when you look at the operational costs and budgets of these sites.” The Explora Remote Data Acquisition System features a range of sensors that are mounted to a robotic mobile base, which is housed in a self-contained docking station placed in the production area. The robot is remotely deployed, delivering real time and accurate data on demand to assist with underground mine mapping and surveying, blast re-entry inspection, ventilation monitoring, fragmentation analysis, communications recovery for Load Haul and Dump Machines (LHDs), thermal and visual asset inspection and geological mapping autonomous area clearance. While it is mostly directed at underground mines, the technology also has open-cut applications such as tyre monitoring and autonomous haul truck inspections. The system will work in conjunction with ADR’s Explora XL Robot, which made headlines in 2021 after 10 of the unmanned robots were successfully sent as far as 1.7km underground to inspect a collapsed mine in Tennessee and help get the site back in operation. “Our new system will enhance the robot’s data acquisition abilities by allowing it to remain permanently underground, preventing the need for it to be retrieved for data uploads,” Dr Cronin said. “This eliminates the need for workers to be sent underground for data collection, helping mining companies to meet their Zero Entry Mining targets. “By utilising our system, mine sites will be able to have more LILO workers (log in, log out) working from a remote location to analyse the data collected. This means less people travelling, less requirement for people entering unsafe situations and less people having to move away or be away from their families on long rosters.” Related: Megatrends report points to mining tech revolutions As part of RCF’s investment, ADR will receive strategic guidance from RCF partner Lyle Bruce, who led GroundProbe from a Brisbane startup to a multi-national organisation employing more than 160 people. “We are proud to be investing in ADR, which is helping remove people from hostile environments while also making mining more efficient,” Mr Bruce said. He said mining innovation was critically important to supporting global demand for critical minerals driven by the energy transition. You may also like: https://industryqld.com.au/stratalock-innovation-firm-ground-for-industry-kudos/

Boost for Queensland mining tech innovation

Industry Queensland

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