by Derek Loughlin, CTO & Executive Director at Tribe Technology
The market for ‘Smart Mining’ equipment is anticipated to exceed USD 23 billion by 2028, fueling the demand and opportunities for automation in the industry. Inspired by this growth, Tribe Technology is dedicated to enhancing workplace safety and efficiency by providing solutions for RC drilling in grade control and exploration. Their innovations remove operators from one of the industry’s most dangerous manual tasks and significantly reduce environmental impact, land disturbance and fuel consumption.
The Tribe Technology Drilling System
Established in 2019 by Charlie King, Tribe Technology (Tribe Tech) is focused on developing its autonomous RC drill rigs and advanced sampling solutions that will revolutionize global mining & exploration operations and answer the market’s growing need for autonomy. Based in Northern Ireland and Western Australia, Tribe Tech’s core activities involve the development, in-house manufacturing, and sale of autonomous RC drill rigs and sample systems, incorporating its core proprietary intellectual property, the Tribe Technology Drilling System (TTDS). The company’s RC drilling systems are designed to remove operators from the dangers involved in the traditional manually operated RC drill rigs, all the while significantly improving productivity, mechanical availability, and to provide deep hole capability. This technology will change the way drilling and mining companies operate, delivering quality solutions that positively impact operations and communities.
The first-generation TTDS GC 700 system was designed to create a highly efficient, reliable and safe product. In addition, the diverse group of hand-picked experienced Tribe Tech engineers from across the globe has designed TTDS with versatility in mind, having the ability to cater to customer needs dependent on the conditions and terrains in which it is operating in.
The first TTDS GC 700 track-mounted drill rig is a ground-up new design incorporating numerous innovations and is the result of over 150 000 development hours. It shipped from the factory in Northern Ireland at the end of July 2024 to Western Australia where it will be combined with the sample system that is being built there. It was manufactured for and sold to McKay Drilling (a subsidiary of Major Drilling International), for deployment at a Tier I iron ore mining asset in Western Australia. TTDS GC 700 offers a drilling capacity of up to 700 m (2297 ft) depth, remote control of operations, automated drill rod handling, automated collaring, rig set-up and pack-up, and a hands-free sampling system.
Tribe Tech continues work on their second complete RC drilling and sampling system which is being manufactured for Anglo American PLC, one of the world’s major mining companies with global operations. Additionally, existing customers of Tribe Tech have already expressed interest in purchasing further systems. While Tribe Tech’s initial market activities have been primarily focused in Western Australia, the company has started to receive inquiries globally, particularly from North and South America. Interest has primarily been from sector leaders among both Tier 1 mining companies and large drilling contractors.
The automating of the RC drilling process is a significant step change and one of the largest innovations in the industry. Tribe Tech provides the solution to the challenges the smart mining industry faces, balancing significant advancements in technology all whilst maintaining a competitive price to its customer base. The company has also configured its autonomous RC sampling system so that it can be modularized and sold to customers for use in conjunction with other RC drill rig brands.
with other drill rigs
The future now
At its core, Tribe Tech is a company that has been founded on innovation. The company believes in a safer and more sustainable future for the mining industry, focused on delivering quality solutions to positively impact communities. It has focused on market-leading technology that will revolutionize drilling, while dramatically improving safety outcomes and streamlining operations.
Committed to Research and Development, Tribe Tech intends to strengthen its IP portfolio in order to expand its product range, including but not limited to, truck-mounted RC drill rigs.
The company is committed to building the technology of the future, boldly seeking to enhance safety and efficiency within this sector of the global industry. To that end, Tribe Tech has established strong working relationships with key global players. These companies understand the demand to develop and deploy autonomous equipment for safe and efficient use in the sector and trust in Tribe Tech to achieve this.
Furthermore, Tribe Tech is constantly looking for ways to develop its capabilities within the Smart Mining market using its drilling systems as a platform for orebody knowledge acquisition. More recently, the company has entered into joint development agreements with IMDEX and Veracio Australia Pty, (a subsidiary of Boart Longyear). Under the agreement with Veracio, both companies will jointly develop a new and novel system for blast hole chip sampling, incorporating Tribe Tech’s IP and Veracio’s proprietary technology. The agreement with IMDEX will see both companies leverage their respective IP to use the Tribe Tech RC drilling system as a platform for machine-operated orebody knowledge sensor deployment.
About the company
Tribe Technology stands at the forefront of innovation in the industry, driven by its vision to create a safer, more efficient and sustainable future. Through the development of its RC drill rigs, Tribe Tech aims to revolutionize mining operations worldwide, playing on their deep understanding of the challenges the industry faces and its commitment to delivering quality solutions of the future, now.
