SURFACE DRILLING
Unlike traditional automated drilling platforms, the Drill Assist user interface is intuitive, and does not require extensive operator training
operator training. This empowers drill operators to improve hole quality, regardless of experience.
Algorithms monitor all input signals and take dynamic, autonomous corrective actions to avoid hole failure. Drilling data can tell the mine site about ground hardness, ore grade and enable decision-makers to integrate this information with insights from downstream practices to improve blasting outcomes.
IM caught up with Curtis Stacy, Hexagon Senior Product Manager, Autonomous Drills.“ We have been focusing on unlocking the value of the data generated by Drill Assist. We will be rolling out our insights package for Drill Assist in the next couple months at an iron ore mine. We see a clear difference in data generated by human operators versus the AI algorithms we use for drill control. The insights package will allow our users to unlock massive value in their blasting practices and we are anxious to see those results.”
On the control side, Stacy says that Drill Assist continues to operate every day and adds that no changes have been required in the Ai algorithms.“ Not one parameter has changed over thousands of holes in multiple mine sites and ever-changing geological challenges down the hole, that says a lot about the robust nature of the algorithm. The application continues to provide stellar production rates and as such we have not needed to change anything within the core technology.”
Deployments are ongoing and Hexagon is looking forward to seeing more positive results from new mine sites around the world.“ We are also working on a new, OEM agnostic approach to digital machine interfacing that greatly simplifies our approach to new models of machines. Bottom line, Drill Assist continues to provide direct value to our users and is on a growth path with new machine makes and models coming online over the next six months.”
FQM pioneers drill automation with FLANDERS at Sentinel
Last December, First Quantum announced that it had introduced new automated drilling technology at its Sentinel copper mine in Kalumbila, part of its Trident operations, marking the first time this advanced system had been used in Zambia.
Three automated drill machines were successfully tested then commissioned at Sentinel, operated by First Quantum’ s subsidiary Trident Mining, in partnership with the supplier, FLANDERS Inc. Following the positive results, FLANDERS committed to opening a local office in Zambia to support the roll-out and to build local capacity. FLANDERS is the industry leader for OEM-agnostic drill automation with its Freedom for Drills system, widely known as ARDVARC.
This type of drilling technology is already in use in mines in a number of countries including South Africa, Botswana, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and the US. With the trials completed, the company received the necessary regulatory approval to roll out automated drilling in Zambia.
IM Editorial Director Paul Moore recently visited the Sentinel operation in April 2026 to hear more about the project and see the autonomous drills control room. Currently three electric( cable powered) Epiroc Pit Viper 271E drills are running autonomously. FQM said that it took about three months to convert the drills after and they have been auto drilling consistently for the last eight months. It makes Zambia the third country in Africa after South Africa and Botswana to roll out blasthole drill autonomy. The miner told IM that it has seen when compared to pre-automation data from the drills, a 15 % improvement in hole drilling accuracy plus a 30 % drill utilisation increase.
FQM said the accuracy was the key project driver initially, to be able to provide the greatest consistency of material possible to the crusher and ultimately the processing plant. It has seen a 10 % improvement in fragmentation. Specifically, the X, Y and Z precision of drill holes have improved significantly thanks to advanced laser sensors and GPS technology. The increased utilisation also means
the number of holes drilled has increased by over one-third and last but not least, safety has also improved as operators can now manage the equipment from the secure control room location away from the active pit.
First Quantum is exploring options for further drill automation across its Zambian operations and reviewing the feasibility of private industrial networks across its sites to support for greater automation and digitalisation of equipment.
Other drills in the Sentinel fleet include nine large diesel Caterpillar MD6640 units which are capable of drilling 270 to 311 to 270 mm. There are also two Epiroc PV271 diesel powered drills plus four Epiroc SmartROC diesel D65s for wall control drilling and trimming along with two older DML models that are being phased out.
Autonomous drilling control room at FQM Sentinel mine
International Mining | MAY 2026 59