Highlights

  • RocketDNA supplies autonomous drone-based geo-data and AI services to mining, agriculture and critical-asset customers in Australia and Africa.
  • Its xBot hardware operates at mine sites, and the data is delivered through the SiteTube platform.
  • The company describes a "land and expand" approach, aiming to grow usage at existing enterprise sites.
  • The report does not say what happens after that minimum term, so continued revenue is not confirmed.

RocketDNA (ASX:RKT) has reported that recurring revenue from its xBot autonomous drone systems exceeded half of group revenue for the first time in the September 2026 quarter. In its quarterly report and Appendix 4C, the company says xBot recurring revenue rose 24 per cent on the previous quarter and that monthly recurring revenue reached A$665,000 at quarter end. Total unaudited revenue was A$2.46 million, slightly below A$2.53 million in the previous quarter, as lower legacy drone services and fewer one-off equipment sales offset the recurring growth.

The Business

RocketDNA supplies autonomous drone-based geo-data and AI services to mining, agriculture and critical-asset customers in Australia and Africa. Its xBot hardware operates at mine sites, and the data is delivered through the SiteTube platform. The company describes a "land and expand" approach, aiming to grow usage at existing enterprise sites.

Commercial Progress

The update states 25 xBot systems were on paid ongoing service, with a further 21 in manufacture, transport, commissioning or trial. The company states that it received purchase orders of about A$1 million from BHP Mitsubishi Alliance extending drone operations across four Bowen Basin coal mines. The extension runs for a minimum of three months to October 2026. The report does not say what happens after that minimum term, so continued revenue is not confirmed.

Five new xBot units were placed in live trials with five major mining companies or consortiums, which may be paid, subsidised or free. An xBot system was also ordered, deployed and commissioned at Element 25's Butcherbird manganese mine within the quarter. A non-binding, non-exclusive memorandum with Deswik, part of Sandvik, would see Deswik build an importer for xBot survey data. The business states it has completed its required changes and Deswik is testing. This is not yet a commercial arrangement.

On software, RocketDNA reports more than 1,500 monthly active users of its platforms and about 25,700 missions pre-booked over the next 12 months.

Cash Flow And Funding

Customer receipts were A$2.58 million, but net operating cash flow was an outflow of A$371,000, compared with an inflow of A$60,000 in the previous quarter. Staff costs were A$1.05 million. Investing outflow was heavier, with A$837,000 on fleet hardware and A$368,000 on software and website development. Cash at 30 September 2026 was A$975,000, down from A$2.70 million at 30 June.

After the quarter, the company issued 103,520,582 shares at 2.15 cents each, raising about A$2.23 million before costs. It says the issue was led by major shareholder Daniel Narayan through Sadietilly Capital, taking his holding to 19.5 per cent, with other sophisticated investors participating. No broker was used. Proceeds are intended for xBot hardware build-out, software engineering, cyber-security accreditation and working capital. Pro forma cash was about A$3.2 million, according to the report.

The company also has fully drawn facilities totalling A$756,000, comprising a shareholder loan, equipment loans, insurance premium funding and equipment leasing, with no unused facilities. Related party payments were A$178,000, covering director fees, CFO services and another related party.

Risks And Conditions

The pre-placement funding runway was 2.6 quarters at the September operating outflow, so continued investment in hardware depends on growth in recurring revenue. Revenue figures are unaudited, and the report notes that forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results. Trial units are not guaranteed to convert to paid contracts.

Next Steps

Stated priorities are increasing xBot utilisation and recurring revenue per site, expanding platform features, moving the Deswik integration through testing toward a possible commercial arrangement, pursuing enterprise opportunities in Australia and Africa, and assessing corporate and strategic opportunities. The company also appointed Chris Crosby to its Advisory Board, as announced on 21 October 2026.