Atlas Copco Blasthole Drills

RCS for the Pit Viper series

Rig Control SystemIn its fifth generation, RCS continues to be more productive than ever. The latest RCS technology has advanced safety capabilities, serviceability and drilling accuracy. With CAN-bus technology providing the backbone, ease of system upgrades and add-ons without major machine rebuilds are testaments to RCS’s flexibility and agility.

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A History of Excellence

In 1998, Atlas Copco introduced its Rig Control System (RCS) technology that has revolutionized the mining industry. Now in its fifth generation, RCS continues to keep Atlas Copco in the forefront of blasthole drilling technology development. The ingenuity of RCS provides direct impact to your safety, efficiency, and productivity through a computerized control system.

Rig Control System

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Installed on more than 2,000 rigs worldwide, RCS has become increasingly advanced in its capabili-ties, while preserving easy to use functionality, maintenance, and management. Core to these capabilities are products and processes benefit-ing all levels of mining stakeholders.

RCS is based off time proven CAN-bus technology. As an integrated control system, the rig is gover-ned, monitored, and all required information is conveyed to the operator as well as orders ex-ecuted. This flexible and agile technology contin-ues to power RCS and tackle automation goals.

All current and future Pit Viper models can be equipped with RCS (Standard on PV 351), which provide numerous safety interlock features as well as a number of add-on features. Targeting safety, productivity and efficiency, RCS continues to take the mining industry by storm.

”The right information to the right people at the right time.”

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Engine Control ModuleWhile not directly part of RCS, the ECM plays a pivotal role. Providing valuable engine data for the display, RCS will alert the operator when conditions exist outside the normal parameters by allowing possible equipment saving deci-sions to be made.

Sensors, actuators, and control devicesIntegral components provide the moving, measuring, or sensing in RCS. Depending on the usage, these components either send mes-sages back to the computer or initiate actuation commands.

Features:• “Eyesandears”ofRCStomaintainfull

awareness, while providing safety interlocks. • Providestheoperatortheabilityto “flybywire”foractuatingdevices.

• MostequippedwithLED’sforquicktrouble-shooting.

MC2The MC2 Controller monitors the flow and pres-sure inputs, operator inputs and engine data. It controls the butterfly valve and vent valve actua-tors to achieve the required flow and pressure.

Straightforward

CAN CableRuggedized five-pin serial data cables are used to connect all devices within RCS. The simplistic wiring consists of a single lead running throughout the Pit Viper, serially con-necting I/O Modules to the central computer, creating the CAN network.

Features:• AdherestotheCANOpen

Standard• Allcablesarefive-pin,allowing

field-build in emergency cases

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I/O ModulesThere are five I/O Modules with differing task assignments, strategically located throughout the Pit Viper drill. These ruggedized modules are serially connected to each other through a CAN cable, connecting the central computer to the sensors, actuators, and control devices.

OPERATOR ENVIRONMENT

Left and Right Operator PanelsBuilt into the armrests of the chair, the left and right operator panels literally put the controls of the drill at the operator’s fingertips, using multi-function joysticks and push-buttons.

Display/ComputerThe12.1”infrareddisplayactsintwocapacitiesfor RCS: the rear houses the heartbeat of RCS (the central computer) and the front provides the operator direct awareness of what actions the drill and its systems are performing.

Features:• Ergonomicallybuiltintochairarmrests• Operatorretainscontrolofthedrillwhile

actively aware of surroundings.• Backlitbuttonsforeaseofuseinnighttime

operations• IdenticaloperatorpanelsacrosstheRCSPit

Viper fleet; means operator learning curve dramatically reduced

• Joystickshavefrictionlockforeaseofplacingthem in neutral and rocker switch for safety

• IdenticaloperatorstationsacrosstheRCSPitViper fleet; operator learning curve dramati-cally reduced

• Displayinanon-obtrusivelocation;operatorwill continually have focus on operations with complete awareness of the drill

Straightforward intelligence

Features:• Strategicallyplacedaroundthemajorityofcontroldevices

creating a simplistic cabling plan• Eachisidenticalinhardware,promotingeaseofmaintenance• EquippedwithLED’stoaidinquickanddecisivetrouble-

shooting

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A Safety First approach

With production comes safety, and RCS Basic provides the rig with a few additional standard interlocks:

Pipe-in-the-hole tram interlock ensures the rotary head must be in a safe position to allow tramming

Jackinterlockensuresthepipeinthehole will disable jack functions to pro-tect the machine and reduce bending of rods

Rod support interlock provides safety measures to help prevent damaging the rotary head and rod support

Carousel no-bump prevents damage to the carousel by limiting pulldown pressure with the carousel not in the stowed position

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Hole depth indicator displays the rotary head position as well as the depth of the hole drilled

Breakout wrench protection prevents damage to the breakout wrench by disabling pulldown when the wrench is not in the stowed position

Engine and electric motor informa-tion is displayed on the mainte-nance screens

Configurable low fuel, lube and water level messages are displayed to the drill operator

Tram interlocks ensure a rocker switch must be activated to allow tram functions

Add-on FeaturesRCS is more than it shows at first glance.

As a modular control system, field and factory installed add-on features are all possible as your mining requirements grow.

Common Communica-tions Interface – CCI

The Common Communications Interface (CCI) allows RCS to communicate to other entities and also allows data transfer to and from the RCS system. In order for the CCI to wirelessly communicate, the mine must provide the wireless communica-tions device for their network. The option-al CCI comes complete with the needed software and Ethernet cable.

Desktop Viewer

Through a simple software load on a mine networked com-puter, the drill’s current state can be accessed through our Desktop Viewer. The user will be able to view all of the RCS screens available to an operator as if they were in the cab using the touch panel. Desktop Viewer does not interfere with the operator. The drill is required to be online via a CCI module.

Production Logging

MWD (Measure While Drilling) logs several drill parameters during production drilling and the data can be used for pre-diction of geological and geochemical variations within drill patterns on a bench. This can help determine the strength of that specific rock type. A rock mass is also intersected by fractures and faults that strongly influence the conditions of the rock mass and, therefore, engineering aspects such as charging and blasting of the drill pattern. This data, when integrated with the blasting plan, should influence the ex-plosive charging and specific density applied throughout the pattern, which will in turn influence the loading, hauling and processing of the ore.

Rig Remote Access – RRA The Rig Remote Access software is load-ed on a mine server and gives a customer the ability to wirelessly send files to and from the drill rigs in conjunction with the CCI and the mine’s wireless network. Utilizing a type of encoding, similar to a standard File Transfer Protocol (FTP) serv-er, a number of working processes in the mine are simplified, saving valuable man hours. By having a direct link to the ma-chines, work orders and log files can now be distributed on demand.

OffiCe paCk

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Add-on Features

Wireless Remote Tramming

The wireless remote tramming func-tion allows the operator to tram a Pit Viper from the bench within a 60-me-ter distance. This will allow an op-erator to walk all the way around the machine and tram the rig to avoid any blind spots next to a highwall or berm to prevent damage to the machine. This controller is also equipped with safety triggers, so the operator must have control of the unit with his hands to tram the machine. The function has an emergency stop button and en-gine speed control as well, and can be equipped with additional functions when available.

Autodrill

When activated, this function will de-tect the rock when the bit touches the ground and starts your air, dust, sup-pression, rotation and feed to collar the hole. After the collared distance has been met, this control will adjust air, dust suppression, rotation and feed to a drilling setting. This feature will apply optimal pulldown and rota-tion to drill as fast as possible with-out stalling the rotation or getting stuck. Once the target depth has been reached, the autodrill will clean or flush the hole, shutoff the air and dust suppression and then return the bit to a tramming safe position. This feature provides the consistency of drilling to the correct hole depth, including wa-ter flow to maintain the hole so it does not collapse. Currently this is available for single pass drilling and multi-pass drilling, although a manual rod change must be made at this time.

Teleremote

The teleremote operator panel has the same look, feel and buttons as being onboard the drill. The package includes a four camera system with a one pan/tilt/zoom camera operated remotely andvisibleona32”screen.Thiscom-pact system can be mounted on a ta-ble top or in a trailer. The teleremote system is to be operated over the mine network with capacity of 8 MB/s dedi-cated per drill. The remote operator will have full confidence and awareness of what actions are taking place onboard the rig as well as in near proximity.

Autolevel

The autoleveling/deleveling option closes the gap between an average and expert operator, increasing the quality of setup. This feature reduces wear and tear on the machine struc-ture by limiting torsional effect on the mainframe and tower during leveling. In normal conditions, this takes less than 35 seconds and is done to an ac-curacy of 0.2 degrees in pitch and roll.

High Precision GPS – Global Positioning System

GPS hole navigation ensures each blast hole is precisely positioned per the mine engineers design. GPS antennas are mounted on the tower rest and radio antennas on the cab to produce an accurate bit position. Drill plans, designed with the local mine coordinates, are imported to the RCS in the International Rock Excavation Data Exchange Standard (IREDES) format, and the bit posi-tion is provided in real time.

The bit position is calculated by tak-ing into consideration the variability of the bench, providing the operator with correct depth to drill each hole. While tramming, the operator views a moving map display with zoom functions as the rig gets closer to the desired blast hole location. The dominant system for the precise po-sitioning of a rotary drill on a blast hole drill plan is with satellite navi-gationbasedonGPSorGLONASS.Accuracies up to ±10 cm are possi-ble to reach, depending on instal-lation and the number of satellites. After each hole is drilled a new entry iscreatedontheQualityLogFile.

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Data TransferThink about the way a typical work day or shift starts at your mine. More than likely it begins with work orders that need to be distributed at the beginning of each shift. With RCS, the distribution of drill plans is instantaneous thanks to the RRA server software that provides the end devices across your wireless network connection from your office to the drill rig. Those plans can be easily downloaded from your office computer and altered in a moment’s notice, leaving room for those last minute changes that occur. Wireless network isn’t up and run-ning? No sweat for RCS, as it will accept the drill plans on a USB drive as well.

A day at work with RCS

Active ControlAs the operator takes to the drill, RCS becomes alive. The control system is constantly monitoring the drill’s conditions, which allows the operator to stay focused on the tasks at hand. If you’re drilling in unsafe conditions, the safety interlocks alert the operator so the corrective actions can take place.

The state of the art operator chair allows the operator to make time sensitive adjustments swiftly. A quick glance of the infrared touch screen provides the operator exact real time machine information necessary for the given function being performed.

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A day at work with RCS

A day at work with RCS leads to efficiency, precise decision making, predictable results and repeatable processes. It’s all done in the confines of a comfortable environment for the operator, resulting in safer drilling for the mine.

Drilling EfficiencyTramming to the first hole of the shift is a breeze with the onboard High Precision GPS system. The system shows the drill plan on the display screen and directs the driller to the exact hole location, decreasing non-drilling time.

Now, directly over the hole location, the operator hits the AutoLevel command, which prepares the rig for drill-ing after the tower is raised and locked.

Armed with the mine’s customized parameters, the RCS begins to AutoDrill after another single selection from the operator’s panel. This prepares the drill to effectively collar, drill to the correct hole depth, clean the hole and place the rig in a tram safe position once the drilling process is complete. Now that the process is over, it’s time for the operator to move on to the next hole.

Knowledge TransferAs the days drilling progresses, the critical data on the production logs detail the drill’s actions and perfor-mance in the given terrain. The data is offloaded and utilized by the supervisors, production team, mainte-nance team and blast team for critical decision making.

Your precise mining demands

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Visit us atwww.atlascopco.com/blastholedrills

www.RCSPitViper.com

Visit www.rcspitviper.com to find out more about RCS on PitViper rigs.

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