AUTOMATION
Automatic for
the people
Multi machine automation for LHDs,
new tele-remote projects in China
and new guidelines on automation
implementation in Western Australia
– progress with mine automation
continues apace, reports Paul Moore
utomation is no longer just represented
by a handful of isolated and idealised test
areas of mainly conventional mines. It is
becoming a full production reality at a number
of key operations, both surface and
underground. And if anything the market
pressures, particularly in the form of cost
scrutiny, are driving progress at a faster rate
than ever before. But automation also brings
unique safety and planning challenges, that are
now also being addressed and considered.
A
Multi machine capability
Atlas Copco states that: “by enabling the
strength of a common control system on our
new generation mine equipment we can enable
customer value with smart functions and
features on a large range of mine equipment.”
The mechanisation era has been followed by the
computerised or automated area for mining that
has been around a couple of decades; and
several improvements have been implemented
thanks to on board computers and network
based electrical systems. Oscar Lundhede –
Atlas Copco Product Manager Underground
Automation explained in a recent presentation
the next generation impetus: “The operator has
got help to control the equipment in the most
efficient way and some operating tasks and
routines have also been fully automated. Even
the service and maintenance have improved
helping the operator and technicians to solve
problems and detect errors faster and more
00 International Mining | OCTOBER 2014
precise. But what about the control of the
machine, isn’t it still one operator for one
machine?”
Since 2012 the Atlas Copco Simba Multi
Machine control system has been available for
remote control production drilling applications
and has been in operation in LKAB in Sweden.
Together with ABC Total and the new generation
Simba the operator can supervise up to six
production drill rigs. But now thanks to the
common control system the same function in
2014 is now available for Scooptram LHDs.
Atlas Copco started with teleremote functions
on drill rigs in the 1990s in collaboration with
LKAB in Sweden. It was a PLC based system with
different supplier of the hardware and software.
The Kiruna mine was working on wireless
underground communication (WLAN) and
Malmberget was using fixed cables connecting
each rig. The Simba W469 or BK rig was
controlled from a cabin in a close remote
location from the rigs.
Atlas Copco has for several years, been
working on automated functions for repetitive
routines. This is to increase the safety and
working conditions but also to increase
productivity. In 1998, Atlas Copco introduced the
Rig Control System (RCS) to the market. The RCS
made the equipment easier to use and made it
possible to add different type of automation
solutions, such as ABC Basic, ABC Regular &
ABC Total. These functions assist the operator to
control the drill rig with higher precision that
Using Devex SmartMine UG, operators input the
data from the onboard computer, which sends
the information to the Operational Control
Centre
leads to increased productivity. Still today Atlas
Copco drill rigs have the most comprehensive
automation package on the market with
additional proven functions such as
Underground Manager, Measure While Drilling,
Rig Remote Access, and Drill Plan Generator.
The company recently won an International
Design Award (IDA) for the RCS 5.0 rig control
system for Boomer underground drill rigs. In
2013, the same product also won a design
award from IDA.
When it comes to the underground loaders
and trucks there have been a number of steps
towards automation for several years including
vehicle monitoring systems, load weighing
systems and several remote control systems. In
2005 Atlas Copco released a line-of-sight radio
remote control for Atlas Copco loaders, the
Scooptram RRC. The remote control was the first
automation product developed for the Atlas
Copco loaders. The company states: “The
product has been a success when it comes to
user friendliness, durability, cost efficiency and
easy to support, and it is today operational in
more than 30 countries world-wide.”
The first RCS loader to be launched was the
14 t loader, Scooptram ST14 with RCS,
introduced in 2006. This has then been followed
by a 7 t loader (ST7), an 18 t loader (ST18) and a