Jeff Sterling
Director, Universal Field Robots (UFR)
Jeff heads Universal Field Robots, as its founder. He is a mechanical engineer with over 40 years’ experience and has a proven track record of delivering value through his extensive mining industry domain knowledge.
He is highly-skilled in projects involving robotics, automation, exploration, copper, nickel, earthworks, and capital. Universal Field Robots (UFR) is a proudly Australian owned and operated, trusted robotics and automation company that was founded in 2016 in Brisbane, Queensland by Jeff Sterling.
UFR has seven years’ experience building robots for industrial applications, and over forty years’ engineering experience in the mining industry through
Jeff’s leadership. UFR has grown significantly from a core team of three in 2016 to 40 highly skilled mechanical and mechatronics engineers, software developers and business executives in 2023.
Advances in smart mining: exploring the promise of zero entry mining and automation
Despite advancements in mining safety, Queensland unfortunately still averages about 2.4 fatalities and 80 to 100 serious accidents each year.
Zero entry mining, alongside automation in haulage, enhances safety by minimising human exposure to hazards. The shift towards zero entry in haulage demonstrates its potential to safeguard workers.
Key takeaways:
- Assessing the potential of autonomous driving technology
- Tracking developments in WiFi and connectivity to support mining operations
- Enabling remote monitoring and control from centralised or urban locations
- Innovating blasting technology, including wireless detonators
- Mapping advances in automated loading and variable density explosives