What We Do
We design and build intelligent robotic systems using our proven hardware templates, software frameworks, and custom AI pipelines. Our specialisations include:
- Mechatronics & Robotic Systems – Mobile robots, robotic arms, AI-guided systems, and field robotics.
- Robotics & AI Product Development – From proof-of-concept to full deployment of intelligent machines.
- Embedded AI & Perception Systems – Machine vision, sensor fusion, and AI for autonomous decision-making.
- Autonomous Navigation & Control – Real-time motion planning, SLAM, and adaptive path execution.
- Edge Computing for Robotics – On-device processing, real-time inference, and ultra-low latency control.
- Secure Robotics & AI Safety – Cybersecurity, data integrity, and safety in autonomous decision-making.
- HMI & Robotics Dashboards – UX-focused software for robot monitoring and remote control.
- IoT & Robotics Cloud Platforms – Intelligent cloud services for telemetry, fleet control, and remote updates.
- Blockchain for Robotics – Secure tracking, trust layers, and autonomous agent contracts.
Why Work With Us?
- Autonomous System Experts – From concept to full deployment in challenging real-world environments.
- Feedback-Driven AI Iteration – Rapid prototyping with real-world testing for intelligent systems.
- High-Efficiency Robotics Team – Lean, multidisciplinary, and deeply experienced in embedded AI.
- Client Robotics Portal – Collaborate and track robotic system progress on your secure COLETEK.IO dashboard.
- Real-Time & Edge-Ready Systems – Industrial-grade robotics built for speed, safety, and autonomy.
- Australian-Based Assembly Line – Robotics systems validated on-shore with expert oversight.
- Robotics Safety & Compliance – We ensure readiness for global certifications and mission-critical environments.
Decades of Technical Expertise
With decades of experience in robotics, embedded AI, and autonomous systems, our team brings unmatched depth across every layer of robotics and intelligent automation. From firmware to cloud, we build with purpose:
- 🤖 Embedded AI & Robotics Firmware – Edge inference, sensor fusion, and low-level robot control.
- 🧠 AI Model Deployment – Optimized machine learning pipelines for ROS2-based robots and embedded platforms.
- 📡 Real-Time Control Systems – Fast, deterministic control loops for navigation, motion, and response.
- 🦾 Actuation & Motion Planning – Custom motor controllers, feedback loops, and trajectory execution.
- 🌐 Secure Connectivity – Encrypted robotics networking, OTA updates, and remote diagnostics.
- 👁️ Computer Vision & SLAM – Vision-based autonomy, visual odometry, and object recognition in dynamic environments.
- 🛠️ Robotic Prototyping & Simulation – Gazebo/Unity simulations, CAD-to-field iterations, and DFM-ready systems.
- 🧰 Toolchain Mastery – ROS2, DDS, PX4, NVIDIA Jetson, OpenCV, TensorRT, and real-time Linux stacks.
Our Public News
AI-powered Universal Road Sign (e.g. Speed Sign, Animal Detection, Flood Detection, Fire-Detection) we designed, prototyped, and developed recently demoed at AFAC24 and now for sale at boylan.net.au, Victoria, 2024
COLETEK launched a self-driving wheelbarrow robot (aka Clean Earth Bot) for many applications, including the future of manure-to-fertiliser recycling, Gold Coast, 2023
Gold Coast "Leaders of Industry" lunch with
politicians, council members, and fellow industry leaders.
Presented by RDA Gold Coast, 2022
Drone custom equipment mounting solutions we designed and prototyped for high-end drone RF survey products now for sale at https://sixarms.com, showcased at the NAB Show Las Vegas USA 2022.
15-year-old Charlie completed mobile robotics work experience at the COLETEK lab. He built a few robots and achieved some autonomous behavior using obstacle avoidance via ultrasonic sensors, Gold Coast, 2021
Meeting with some industry leaders for the Defence Cooperative Research Centre (DCRC) for Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS) Info Session, Brisbane, 2018
Mentoring at the world’s first “Build a self-driving car in 72 hours!”. Organised by The Robotics Club, Brisbane, 2018
Building the defence roadmap for robotics and computer vision. Organised by roboticvision.org, Brisbane, 2018
17th AAPA International Conference, Melbourne, 2017
Presenting our future road construction concepts at Connect Expo, Melbourne, 2017
Demoing our robot flagger at Connect Expo, Melbourne, 2017
Dr Charles Karl presenting our traffic control robot concept at ITS World Congress, Melbourne, 2016
Three-page write-up about us in Roads & Civil Works Magazine, 2016
Our robots hired by Freelance Robotics for Queensland Safety Show and Queensland Manufacturing, Brisbane, 2011
Algorithm Experts
Hardware Experts Magic!
🎥 Our Public Work
AgTech Projects
Conference Presentations
Mobile Robots
Our Story
COLETEK began long before it was a company — it started in 1990, when Luke Cole, aged 9, built a wheeled humanoid robot out of scrap wood, salvaged electronics, and endless curiosity. That moment marked the beginning of a lifelong journey into robotics, engineering, and deep systems thinking.
Luke’s early passion for robotics — led to academic accolades, including a Young Scientist Award in 1997, and placing second in advanced mathematics behind now-renowned mathematician Geordie Williamson. By the age of 17, Luke was contributing to real-world breakthroughs in computer vision and autonomous systems, working with pioneers Alex Zelinsky and Richard Hartley within the Robotic Systems Lab at The Australian National University (ANU), CSIRO, NICTA, and Seeing Machines, contributing to real-world breakthroughs in computer vision and autonomous systems.
COLETEK began as a side hustle in 2001 — a sole trader business run after hours for 12 years while Luke worked across elite R&D labs and high-impact industry projects. In 2013, COLETEK PTY LTD was officially founded as a robotics-first company, dedicated to turning bold ideas into autonomous systems that work in the real world.
Luke has led international robotics missions, collaborated with German automotive manufacturers, developed the world’s first fully autonomous tractor in 2010 for Hemisphere GPS (formerly BEELINE), and helped shape solutions for agriculture, defence, industrial automation, and sustainability — blending robotics, AI, and advanced engineering into products that matter.
“Robotics isn’t just a field. It’s a reflection of how we think, live, and evolve. The more we build with purpose, the more we align with nature — and with ourselves.” ~ Luke Cole
Today, COLETEK remains a family-led, Australian-owned company with global reach. We combine deep capability in robotics, embedded systems, AI, mechatronics, real-time control, and secure cloud robotics — with a mindset that prioritises clarity, care, and collaboration.
We don’t just prototype; we partner. We don’t just code; we question. We don’t chase trends — we build the future with intent.
If you’re solving something hard, building something meaningful, or need a lean team that can bridge vision with execution — we’re ready. Let’s bring your idea to life.
"Great things take time! Great things evolve from unique talent, focus and perseverance! We believe we provide that unique talent, focus and perseverance."
Technical Founder, Luke Cole (Bachelor of Mechatronics, Bachelor of Software Engineering)
THE "CLEAN EARTH BOT" SYSTEM
Our flagship environmental robot, thoughtfully engineered to autonomously detect and remove waste from a wide range of natural spaces. Profits from COLETEK services directly support the ongoing research, design, and development of future-forward clean-tech solutions like this — because we believe innovation should always serve both people and the planet.