levelling, tramming and GPS hole
navigation. Adedicated communication
channel that guarantees bandwidth and
latency times for real-time control of the
drill is required. The package can be
equipped with a four-camera system
that is compressed to limit bandwidth
for viewing of the machine from remote
locations. This module also includes a
dedicated safety system that is
independent of the RCS package. If
communication is lost between the
remote station and the machine, it will
shut down. Additional safety systems,
such as personnel detection systems or
systems detecting when people enter
the working area, should be combined
with the mine’s specific safety
instructions.
Autonomous operations
Automating Pit Viper functions have
been the backbone of RCS. Since its
inception on Atlas Copco blasthole
drills in 2006, the RCS product
portfolio has grown through planned
evolution. This growth in RCS options
has focused on creating autonomous
drill elements, network integration,
streaming data, precise navigation and
remote control. Capitalising on this
proven platform provides a solid
foundation for the autonomous
Pit Viper. Amultifaceted approach was
taken to define the autonomous
capabilities with respect to Pit Vipers.
This twofold definition provides the
outline of a complete solution:
documenting machine control and
data exchange.
A complete solution
The autonomous Pit Viper has been
engineered for productivity, designed
around safety and made compatible for
integration directly impacting
efficiencies in the drill‑and‑blast
process.
Safety
Moving drill operations from the drill
to an operations centre creates an
added layer of safety for a mine and its
personnel. The unmanned Pit Viper
drill maintains safety through obstacle
awareness, visual and switched safe
board process and a precautionary
staged approach to degradations that
could be encountered in GPS and
communication networks. All current
safety interlocks will remain in RCS
along with the addition of autonomous
specific interlocks, such as geofences.
Productivity
Automated drilling functions provide
predictable, reliable and repeatable
drill operations, where human
operators deal with fatigue and breaks
in the schedule (operational delays), as
well as with a list of additional
variables. The autonomous Pit Viper
combines the proven existing
automated functions into a complete
drilling process to include
AutoNavigation and Auto Rod
Changing (ARC).
Integration
Autonomous mining breathes efficiency
by definition. Amajor component of
this is a proper and flexible means of
integration in subsystems. The Pit
Viper’s software and hardware have
been engineered around flexibility,
where each meets mine processes and
physical integration points. Standard
data flows, hardware standards (not
brands) and network integration versus
independent networks are each keys to
success. Each integration point was
designed around public/universal
standards or, where none exist,
adaptable solutions were created using
standard protocols.
Efficiency
Amajority of the items captured in the
safety, productivity and integration
sections have direct contributions to
efficiency. In addition, the autonomous
operations centre has monitoring and
control components building
efficiencies. Maintaining awareness of
the fleet is accomplished through
actively selected or default
drill‑mounted and controllable
cameras, as well as a Pit Viper fleet
monitoring tool. This tool provides the
responsible person the precise data
needed for each autonomous Pit Viper
operating in the fleet. Should a
Pit Viper encounter issues, the person
is alerted and can take action to
include direct control and utilising the
teleremote station at their desk.
Automation for limited
resources
Dustin Penn, Business Line Manager
for Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions in
Australia, serves several iron ore
mines with the RCS-based PV-271
blasthole rigs. Some have pushed
forward from AutoLevel and AutoDrill
to more advanced systems to continue
to conquer operational and strategic
goals. “The issue in Australia,” said
Penn, “is the limited workforce and
the extraordinary expense of personnel
logistics for our customers –
everything from employee housing
and food service to transportation. It’s
a 2 hr flight for them to get in and out
of the mine.”
The goal for these Australian mines
is to expand their capabilities by
growing a fleet with the drillers they
have, which means automation. Penn
said: “With automation, the driller can
become a supervisor of a drill fleet, not
just a single driller operating one
machine. Automation will not just
lower production costs but will also
streamline servicing. Multiple services,
such as water, fuel and visual
inspection, will be performed at once
– more efficiently. Combined with the
decreased downtime at shift changes,
automation promotes greater Pit Viper
utilisation.
Penn emphasises that transitioning
to automation requires unified
dedication from all management
groups at a mine, from senior
management to IT and human
resources departments, to drilling,
planning and blasting. Then the mine
has to integrate with the supplier.
Penn’s customers set up
cross‑functional teams to work with
Atlas Copco since they incorporate
automation into the mine’s
operations.
The rewards make the integration
process worth it, he concludes,
resulting in predictable productivity
that will help the mine accurately
calculate capital from its drilling and
blasting plans. Penn added that
automation also brings a greater level
of equipment reliability, making fewer
mistakes than human operators and
that everyone is happy from
management to investors.
98
|
World Coal
|
August 2015
