Automation and digital solutions aim to create a connected worksite to make mining operations safer, more productive and more efficient.

At the recent Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration annual conference and expo, Epiroc highlighted a number of scalable solutions for automation, telematics, tele-remote operations, high-precision drilling, and decision support, including:

• Certiq telematics, which gathers, compares and communicates equipment information through a Web portal. Available for new and existing surface and underground machines, it also records information for use in training, assessment and planning.
• The BenchREMOTE station allows operators to control multiple smart surface drill rigs and perform drilling functions from a distance. Closed and secured wireless networks facilitate communication between the station and remote rigs. The system also supports geo-fencing, which enables software to trigger a response when a mobile device enters or leaves a particular area.
• The Hole Navigation System (HNS) works with global positioning system coordinates to guide a drill to the required drilling position. It ensures that holes are drilled to the correct depth and at the correct angle, according to the drill plan, reducing the need to manually mark and survey hole positions.
• Surface Manager converts production data into information and reports. The software displays data on charts and graphs to map drill usage, evaluate production statistics, track consumables and compare planned outcomes against actual results and also allows for the creation of geo-fences.
• Underground Manager is support software used for the planning, administration and evaluation of drilling operations in mining and tunnelling projects. The software collects drilling data, which can be used for navigation and hole-positioning.
• Advanced Boom Control (ABC) Total is a smart function that allows for complete automation of the drilling process, even during personnel breaks and shift changes. The drill pattern is selected, the boom and feed is positioned automatically and fully automatic drilling takes place, including automatic collaring of the hole. The program also includes hole sequence programming and boom collision control.
• The Automation Regular package allows the Epiroc Scooptram underground loader to be controlled through an operator station from a remote location, with the ability to change from manual to automatic mode.
• Mobilaris Mining Intelligence (MMI) is a position-based decision support system aimed at increasing personnel safety and productivity. It can be used to track and find equipment, vehicles and personnel and oversee infrastructure in real-time, three-dimensional views. Its open interface allows for integration with mining applications for information-driven mining and tunnelling operations.
• The AutoDrill 2 is available for Epiroc Pit Viper blasthole drills and recognises drill bits and adjusts rotary drilling performance to rock conditions, in real time.
• Auto Rod Change (ARC) integrates into the existing Epiroc AutoDrill 2 to provide a multi-pass automation product for blasthole drilling. ARC adds rods to reach target depth and removes rods during the retract and cleaning phases.
• Mobius, from Epiroc partner ASI Mining, offers unmanned command and control solutions for robotic vehicle operations. Featuring embedded artificial intelligence, the system enables multi-vehicle command, control and monitoring.
• The automation-ready Epiroc Pit Viper PV-231 surface blasthole drills will become available in the near future and offer rig control systems with automation capabilities, giving a choice of manual operation with automated assistance or fully autonomous operation.