SURFACE DRILLING
improvements were then made before its rebranding to the ZR77 . The ZR122 was released at MINExpo 2021 .
Key points on the ZR series include single rack and pinion pulldown with innovative lightweight carriage offering highest torque rotary head in class with a feed rate of 40 m / min . The live tower allows raising and lowering of the mast with the drill string attached , and carriage hoisted . Easy drill method conversion is done from rotary to DTH with an adjustable breakout wrench enabling fitment . Angled drilling is possible up to 30 degrees off vertical at 5 degree increments . Diesel to electric upgrade is done with configurable frames enabling modular exchange . The overall modular design offers one day assembly with easy ability to configure for multiple operating conditions including high altitude , extreme cold eg -50 ° C as well as big air options . An auto bit changer enables a five minute change with no operator manual intervention . Manoeuvrability is another big plus – 360-degree lower works turnability for better access on tight patterns . It also allows 1 in low profile windrow terrain deliverability compared to competitive drills that leave a 1 ft high drift . The lower profile also enables easier support equipment access and stable terrain for site personnel . Two final points – the LINCS control system offers an improved operator experience with joystick control , good cab ergonomics with < 60 dBA sounds , and mine to mill optimisation with stratification modelling and ProVision integration for real time machine health monitoring and productivity analysis .
Lastly , the ZR drills are fully automation ready – having HPGPS and geofencing , tele-operation capability , obstacle detection technology , auto navigation , a 360 degree camera system and the mentioned auto bit changer as an option .
Onto the ZR122 introduction in more detail . The machine at MINExpo 2021 was the first –
Dedication pays off
IM spoke to the surface mining automation team at Epiroc including Automation Manager - Surface Mining , Chris Blignaut and Product Manager - Automation , Zach Ellis
Q Epiroc recently announced autonomous drilling of 41 million metres - what has driven the success of your system in the market ? A We have a dedicated team focused on improving our technology products and pushing the bleeding edge of technology to stay at the forefront of mining technology . At Epiroc , we started by implementing our technology with a customer focus . The solutions supplied in our technology journey were onboard technology first . Once these were proven products , we moved on to off-board technology . We have always followed this blueprint with all released products .
Q Is the current RCS level RCS 5 ? Is this now implemented across all of your autonomously operating drills and can you comment on any unique functionality that it has brought ? A Autonomous operators today run RCS 4 or RCS 5 with many field upgrades underway . RCS 5 is our most advanced control system . RCS 5 offers many unique features , such as enhanced autonomous productivity as well as features for human-crewed operations like drill plan sharing , embedded cameras , and a new 15 in touch screen GUI .
Q Are you seeing more interest in automation of tethered electric drills due to mining company emissions targets and what progress has been made so far in that regard ? A We have seen an increase in questions around electric drills as customers see these as a possible tool to help them meet their emissions reduction commitments and the level of automation available for these drills . Electric drills utilise our single-row autonomous package , where the machine autonomously completes an entire row of holes . The control room operator moves the machine to the next row teleremotely to ensure proper cable management . There is a lot of interest in both automation and emission reduction initiatives and a combination of both . Automation has proven to contribute to many areas of customer operations , including , but not limited to , enhanced safety , increased productivity and efficiency , continuous and sustainable results , LWE etc . Combined with our development of electric drill rigs , automation can continue delivering these values and do it with a significantly better carbon footprint .
Q Would you say that the majority of your new clients are going straight to full autonomy today without any interim steps like line of sight ? A We have . Due to their confidence in the system , many customers go straight to full autonomy without interim steps like Line-of-Sight
TeleREMOTE or Office TeleREMOTE . Where we see customers take interim measures , it ’ s been to spend time installing the infrastructure required for autonomy and still capturing the benefits of Line-of-Sight . Our 6th Sense approach and product offering allow us to start the automation journey at different levels and gradually grow the technically and operationally complex . Every implementation project shows us common trends in areas where automation can bring improvements . Still , it also displays unique problem and opportunity statements that we help resolve with automation and digitalisation solutions .
Q What level of retrofitting are you doing for surface drill autonomy today ? A Our technology is based on our RCS control system for our surface drill rigs , which provides a convenient foundation to add more functionality and technology options in the future without a major rebuild of the machine . For SmartROC D65 , we are planning options for a factory-fit ( where the drill rig is assembled as autonomous at the factory ) as well as a field technology upgrade . The latter will be subject to the specific drill rig technical condition and level of the technology that the drill rig was originally built with .
Q Has Mobius for Drills , developed with ASI Mining , been commercialised at any sites and can you give any details ? A Yes , we have several sites running our Mobius for Drills . Mobius for Drills has shown great value for customers operating drill rigs remotely and autonomously . Our newest site is IAMGOLD in Canada , which is running two D65II and commissioning two PV230 complete autonomous machines . We look forward to projects with SmartROC remote and autonomous operations as well . Mobius for Drills is a powerful single platform for valuable insights and data-driven decisions for daily operational needs and long-term strategic decisions .
Q What are the advantages of working in partnership with an OEM like Epiroc on autonomy as opposed to a third party ? A Epiroc ' s Surface & Exploration Drilling Division ( SRD ) autonomous solutions are specifically targeted and tailored for our products , leveraging the experience and knowledge from developing surface drills and ground-engaging tools for the maximised outcome . All the hardware and software of Epiroc ' s leading-edge control system platform are developed and maintained by Epiroc . The OEM understands the machine better than anyone . Because of this , the autonomous option is optimised around the design of that machine for the best performance possible instead of an option that has to be modified for each different make and model . Customers also benefit from technical support from dedicated technicians who understand the technology and the machine .
International Mining | APRIL 2023