FROM THE LAB
Sanna Persson
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The AutoDrill 2 system adapts to the varying ground conditions and can be used on all Pit Viper models.
AutoDrill 2
Changing the game – again Atlas Copco’s engineers spent three years conducting field tests at several sites with different terrain. They then went back to the lab and created AutoDrill 2, our latest automated Rig Control System.
P
eter D. Miller, Product Engineer at Rig Control Systems, is one of the people behind Atlas Copco’s newest automation solution.
tions. To accomplish this we changed the interface from direct output actuation to setting real work targets Why choose a Rig Control System in Peter D. Miller like weight on bit, feed Product Engineer, the first place? speed and torque and “Computerized control systems do not Rig Control Systems, presetting those tarAtlas Copco deviate from how they are trained to pergets to the appropriate form but instead create a predictable, safe values for the drill bit. and repeatable day, which means increased We also used closed loop control, so the sysproductivity for everyone involved.” tem adapts the outputs to the correct actuation for the rig to achieve the setpoints, and What were your main challenges? we developed a drilling strategy which ad“The original AutoDrill required ma- justs those setpoints to actual ground conchine-specific setup by someone with in- ditions.” depth knowledge of how the drill works and how to drill properly for the current con- How much time did you spend developing sumables and ground conditions. AutoDrill AutoDrill 2? 2 simplifies the setup and interface with pre“About 3 000 man-hours in the field over set operating parameters. The main chal- the course of three years, testing and talking lenge for us was going from an autodrill sys- to real users, and another 9 000 man-hours tem that worked for one ground condition in development between field visits. Their on one rig, to a system that works across Pit experience and guidelines were very useful Vipers and adapts to varying ground condi- for us in the development phase.” More 52
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Mining & Construction | No.01 | 2017
AutoDrill 2 ■
AutoDrill 2 can be used on all Atlas Copco’s Pit Viper models and was launched for rotary drilling earlier this year. ■ In Q4 it will also be available for hammer drilling. ■ Worldwide field testing on site showed that AutoDrill 2 is faster than both manual and competitor automated drilling, that it has a considerably higher penetration rate and that 95 percent of the drilling time is possible without interaction.