World record for raiseboring - Atlas Copco

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INNOVATION SPECIAL:RCS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The control systemwith unlimited potentialOver the past few years, a great deal of the debate surroundingthe future of the mining and construction industry has focusedon automation and, more specifically on the role played byAtlas Copco’s remarkable Rig Control System (RCS). M&Creviews the concept and concludes that its full potential isalmost unlimited and there is much that can still be exploited.Old habits die hard, as the saying goes,are more reluctant than others to give uptraditional working methods. Others areprepared to venture into new territory buton a limited scale, while a few see the full board” as soon as the opportunity arises.This is understandable in a world where theoperations leave little time to step back, takestock and consider the wider picture.Seen from this standpoint, Atlas Copco’sRig Control System (RCS) is probably themost interesting technical developmentinto heavy equipment. Not because of theabundance of features and functions thatRCS provides – although considerable – butbecause of what it can mean for the futuredevelopment of mining and constructionprocedures and for the lives of the manySystem, RCS could just as well stand forthat enables man and machines to organize,integrate, co-ordinate and optimize in ways and productivity.Back to the futureTo fully understand the potential offered bythe RCS innovation, it is necessary to takea brief look at how it all started. The inspirationcame from the automotive industryin the late 1980s. The system being usedin vehicles at that time, widely referred toas CANBUS, consisted of a great manysensors and cables that controlled a largenumber of functions such as raising andlowering electric windows, automaticadjustment of mirrors, brakes, and so on.The Atlas Copco engineers wanted toadapt it to the functions of a drill rig, butwere also convinced that the amount ofcables required (about 200 in the averagecar) would have to be drastically reduced forreasons of weight, and that the whole systemThe answer they came up with wassimplicity itself: one main cable (containingfour wires), one main computer,a number of secondary PCs strategicallyplaced around the drill rig and groups ofsensors.The central computer could be pro-make sophisticated decisions and issue spe-be responsible for controlling just onemajor function or component – a boom forinstance. These would carry out the centralPC’s commands and, with the aid of thesensors, continuously gather and log performancedata and feed this information back1998–1999 2000–2001 2002–2006 2007–2010 2011–GENERATION I GENERATION II GENERATION III GENERATION IV GENERATION VBoomer (2 boom) Boomer (3 boom) Robbins Pit Viper OngoingSimba ROC SmartRig Explorac DiamecBoltec Scaletec MinetruckCabletecSmartROC (DTH drilling)Boomer (4 boom)ScooptramAtlas Copco started to develop its RCS control system as early as 1990 and four generations have evolved over a 12 year period. Today,with more than 1 800 RCS-based units in operation around the world, Atlas Copco is the undisputed market leader in this technology.20 MINING & CONSTRUCTION – 1 / 2011
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAYMikael Ramström: “It canfine-tune operations in wayspreviously not possible.”In total control: RCS technology displays all the necessary data on a screen and allowsit to be shared with others for total optimization of the operation.to the central PC for storage and analysis.The result was a system that enabled theoperator to exercise full control over all ofthe drilling functions using the onboardcomputer screen and control panel, providinga much higher level of precision andpaving the way for automation.Full scale development got under way in1990 and evolved over the next eight years,finally culminating in the launch of the firstunderground rig, a Boomer L2 C, equippedwith the first generation RCS.Technically it was a triumph but, assuspected, it was not an immediate success.Drillers were sceptical towards computerizationand automation, with manydismissing it as inferior to the skill of anexperienced driller. To some extent, theywere absolutely right. The system was nota substitute, but used correctly it was afantastic complement.Convinced that the future lay in automatedsystems, Atlas Copco pressed onwith RCS technology and over the next10 to 12 years the company released a constantstream of RCS-based products. Andwith each new release, the system hadalso been upgraded in line with the evolutionof computer hardware, software andconnectivity.The second generation RCS platform forBoomer rigs was launched in 2000–2001and 2002–2006 saw the launch of the thirdgeneration RCS-based equipment includingloaders, exploration rigs and Robbins raiseborersin rapid succession.The fourth generation RCS platform wasintroduced in 2007–2010 with the launch ofthe Diamec diamond core drill rig and thePit Viper 271 rotary blasthole rig.Today, the entire portfolio of Atlas Copcoequipment for mining and construction isavailable with the same RCS platform andAtlas Copco is now working on what willbe the fifth generation.All about communicationM&C asked Mikael Ramström, ProductLine Manager Underground DrillingEquipment and a member of the RCS teamduring most of this development period, toput the project into perspective.“The key driver in this effort was notjust to improve the way a drill rig could beTed Aikman: “It eliminatesinevitable periods of downtimeand lost productivity.”Marcus Lundbergh:“It’s the key to effectivepreventive maintenance.”Olav Kvist: “One of the bigbenefits is to be able to documenteverything you do.”MINING & CONSTRUCTION – 1 / 2011 21
Page 6 and 7: The Atlas Copco Robbins 91RH C rais
Page 9 and 10: Rich history: The Kiruna Mine, loca
Page 11 and 12: The best of both worlds: Depending
Page 13 and 14: Electric may be cheaper,but the mob
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Page 17 and 18: PRODUCTS & PROGRESS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Page 19: ealized substantial economic benefi
Page 26 and 27: Gothenburg rail tunnel speeds tocom
Page 28: Anders Östberg, Veidekke’s Plant
Page 31 and 32: World’s biggest silver mineplaces

World record for raiseboring - Atlas Copco

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