UNDERGROUND DRILLING
In underground mining drill and blast operations , the task of cleaning and surveying blastholes is both dangerous and cumbersome . To address this , Universal Field Robots ( UFR ) has developed a groundbreaking solution aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency , UFR AutoPrep .
UFR AutoPrep is a robotic system designed for production hole preparation and surveying , aimed at removing personnel from hazardous work areas while providing real-time survey data for every hole without production delays . Traditionally , preparing drill holes for charging is a labour-intensive and dangerous task that requires three workers , exposing them to falling debris , silica , other toxic contaminants and a high risk of musculoskeletal injuries . UFR AutoPrep , UFR says , can be operated by a single operator from a protected cabin or remotely , significantly reducing labour requirements and the risk of lost-time injuries and silicosis .
Over the past three years , UFR AutoPrep has undergone several successful trials and refinements at South32 ’ s Cannington Mine in Queensland , Australia , and Gold Fields ’ Agnew gold mine in Western Australia .
The first release of the UFR AutoPrep robot will still require one operator to sit in an air-conditioned , sealed cabin to move the machine and initiate the automated process with the push of a button . Ultimately , as the technology advances , UFR AutoPrep aims to eliminate the need for any human entry , enabling autonomous and teleremote operations from above ground .
According to UFR Managing Director , Jeff Sterling , automating the cleaning and surveying of underground blastholes is a complex process , and UFR is at the forefront of this industry innovation .
UFR AutoPrep is , the company says , a perfect example of a pathway on the industry-wide journey to move people away from higher risk jobs underground by 2030 , as identified by the Global Mining Guidelines Group . While a framework is yet to be set , it is clear technology such as UFR AutoPrep represents an important step change towards zero entry .
Traditional blasthole cleaning and surveying in underground mining
UFR AutoPrep is a robotic system designed for production hole preparation and surveying , aimed at removing personnel from hazardous work areas while providing real-time survey data for every hole without production delays
pose significant safety risks , with a high chance of dislodged material falling on operators . The task involves strenuous work such as pushing pipes and pumping air and water overhead . Additionally , workers face exposure to silica dust post-drilling and potential flyrock incidents . UFR AutoPrep currently addresses these issues by relocating two out of three workers to safer areas , requiring only one person to operate underground from the air-conditioned cabin .
UFR AutoPrep employs an industry-proven blasthole survey tool to measure toe and collar positions as well as hole angles , the company says . This data is crucial for detecting deviations from the planned blast holes . By integrating this information with a blast planning tool , engineers can optimise and adjust the blasting parameters to minimise re-drills , thereby enhancing the efficiency of the drill and blast process , it added .
a mine , but it has to scan like one . The simulated laser scans the simulated environment , generating a point cloud which the system then analyses to look for potential problems and adjusts the drill plan accordingly .
“ Another area that can benefit from machine learning is the autonomous control of the two booms on the rig ; they need to learn how to move freely and precisely without colliding with either each other or the rock . After running and analysing different scenarios a few thousand times , the system should be ready for testing in an actual mine .”
Lundberg added : “ Using a simulation is a much safer and quicker way to accomplish the task – we simply cannot shut down a mine for the weeks or months necessary to train the system . This will hopefully enable us to greatly reduce the need for physical testing and also simulate scenarios that would be hard to set up in real life .”
Epiroc is leading and coordinating this project and is contributing machinery , manpower and expertise . The end customer Boliden is contributing the operations and environment knowledge , testing and demonstration sites , as well as the evaluation of solutions . Algoryx is providing software development , simulation and Unity expertise , as well as AGX Dynamics , the physics engine . Örebro University is researching and developing the recognition and machinelearning algorithms .
State-of-the-art automatic drilling
Mine Master is also upping the automation ante in its underground drilling fleet , with the FLP1410 single boom drill rig another example of this .
Designed for low-profile applications , the FLP1410 has a minimum height of 1.4 m , allowing it to tram and drill in excavations as low as 1.6 m in height .
It is engineered to operate in the harsh environment of ultra-deep mines , offering the highest levels of safety , reliable and powerful drilling , exceptional operator comfort and easy maintenance , Mine Master says , claiming that it is the only such machine on the market that can be equipped with state-of-the-art automatic drilling .
Compared with its predecessor , the low-profile FLP1400-1B , the FLP1410 has been upgraded to meet changing user requirements . In the cab , a
full air conditioning system has been installed instead of a simple cooling fan . This has been made to face the more challenging environmental conditions in mines . The more spacious , ergonomic open cab provides a comfortable and safer working environment for the operator . Low noise and vibration levels reduce operator stress and fatigue . For the service crew , access to service components has been improved , making daily maintenance quick and easy . The electrically or hydraulically controlled drilling panel has been adapted for the installation of various drilling monitoring systems , especially the new Automatic Drilling System ( ADS ), Mine Master says .
The FLP1410 offers many benefits to its users . It can drill reliably and accurately , thanks to a Montabert HC95LM rock drill and precise autoparallel system . The robust rock drill provides long service intervals as well as low running cost . 15 in ( 381 mm ) wheels along with a strong hydrostatic drive offer the best tramming ability , with wheel motors with dynamic disc brakes complying with the most recent SABS regulations . The FLP1410 has a low fuel consumption and a long service life , and its
12 International Mining | JULY 2024