Atlas Copco Blasthole Drills

RCS for the Pit Viper series

Rig Control System

In 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 RCSs flexibility and agility.
Rig
Control
System
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.

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

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.
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.

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.

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Straightforward

Engine Control Module

While 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 devices

Integral 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:
Eyes and ears of RCS to maintain full
awareness, while providing safety interlocks.
Provides the operator the ability to
fly by wire for actuating devices.
Most equipped with LEDs for quick trouble-
shooting.

MC2
The 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.

CAN Cable
Ruggedized five-pin serial data cables are Features:
used to connect all devices within RCS. The Adheres to the CAN Open
simplistic wiring consists of a single lead Standard
running throughout the Pit Viper, serially con- All cables are five-pin, allowing
necting I/O Modules to the central computer, field-build in emergency cases
creating the CAN network.

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intelligence
I/O Modules
There 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 Panels
Built into the armrests of the chair, the left and
right operator panels literally put the controls of
the drill at the operators fingertips, using multi-
function joysticks and push-buttons.
Display/Computer
The 12.1 infrared display acts in two capacities
for 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:
Ergonomically built into chair armrests
Operator retains control of the drill while
actively aware of surroundings.
Backlit buttons for ease of use in nighttime
operations
Identical operator panels across the RCS Pit
Viper fleet; means operator learning curve
dramatically reduced
Joysticks have friction lock for ease of placing
them in neutral and rocker switch for safety
Identical operator stations across the RCS Pit
Viper fleet; operator learning curve dramati-
cally reduced
Display in a non-obtrusive location; operator
will continually have focus on operations with
complete awareness of the drill
Features:
Strategically placed around the majority of control devices
creating a simplistic cabling plan
Each is identical in hardware, promoting ease of maintenance
Equipped with LEDs to aid in quick and decisive trouble
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

 ack interlock ensures the pipe in the

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

 od support interlock provides safety

R
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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 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

Hole depth indicator displays the

rotary head position as well as the
depth of the hole drilled

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Add-on Features
RCS 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.

Office pack
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 mines 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.

Common Communica- Desktop Viewer

tions Interface
Through a simple software load on a mine networked com-
CCI puter, the drills current state can be accessed through our
Desktop Viewer. The user will be able to view all of the RCS
The Common Communications Interface
screens available to an operator as if they were in the cab
(CCI) allows RCS to communicate to other
using the touch panel. Desktop Viewer does not interfere
entities and also allows data transfer to
with the operator. The drill is required to be online via a CCI
and from the RCS system. In order for the
module.
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.

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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
and visible on a 32 screen. This com-
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.
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.
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-
gation based on GPS or GLONASS.
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
is created on the Quality Log File.
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A day at work
with RCS
Data Transfer
Think 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 moments notice, leaving room for those last minute
changes that occur. Wireless network isnt up and run-
ning? No sweat for RCS, as it will accept the drill plans
on a USB drive as well.
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Active Control
As the operator takes to the drill, RCS becomes alive.
The control system is constantly monitoring the drills
conditions, which allows the operator to stay focused on
the tasks at hand. If youre 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.
Your precise mining demands
A day at work with RCS leads to efficiency, precise decision making, predictable
results and repeatable processes. Its all done in the confines of a comfortable
environment for the operator, resulting in safer drilling for the mine.

Drilling Efficiency Knowledge Transfer

Tramming 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.
As the days drilling progresses, the critical data on the
production logs detail the drills 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.

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 mines customized parameters, the RCS

begins to AutoDrill after another single selection from
the operators 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, its
time for the operator to move on to the next hole.

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Learn more

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

Visit us at
www.atlascopco.com/blastholedrills
www.RCSPitViper.com