A system and method for drilling a borehole using a drilling rig having a rotary drill bit includes monitoring one or more drilling parameters; determining whether the one or more monitored drilling parameters are within predetermined specifications for one or more of the monitored drill parameters; and, executing an exception control procedure for control of a drilling parameter. The exception control procedure receives an input sensor value associated with a drilling parameter and applies feedback control to establish a scaled error value that is used to compute a setting value for the drilling parameter. The drilling parameters controlled may include the rotation speed of the drill bit, the feed rate of the drill bit, the weight-on-bit, or rotation torque during retraction of the drill bit. A computer-readable database of specifications of drill bits may be provided as a part of the system.

A system and method for drilling a borehole using a drilling rig having a rotary drill bit includes monitoring one or more drilling parameters; determining whether the one or more monitored drilling parameters are within predetermined specifications for one or more of the monitored drill parameters; and, executing an exception control procedure for control of a drilling parameter. The exception control procedure receives an input sensor value associated with a drilling parameter and applies feedback control to establish a scaled error value that is used to compute a setting value for the drilling parameter. The drilling parameters controlled may include the rotation speed of the drill bit, the feed rate of the drill bit, the weight-on-bit, or rotation torque during retraction of the drill bit. A computer-readable database of specifications of drill bits may be provided as a part of the system.

A rock drilling unit and method for charging drilled holes. The rock drilling unit includes a feed system for feeding initiators and rock breaking material into the drilled holes. The rock drilling unit is also provided with one or more communicating devices for communicating with the wireless initiators.

A rock drilling unit and method for charging drilled holes. The rock drilling unit includes a feed system for feeding initiators and rock breaking material into the drilled holes. The rock drilling unit is also provided with one or more communicating devices for communicating with the wireless initiators.

Apparatus and methods for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of a feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit.

A system and method for relieving hang-ups, comprising a mobile command vehicle operative to transport a robotic vehicle to a control location remote from a hang-up location; the robotic vehicle operative to advance from the control location to the hang-up location, scan the hang-up location, transmit scanning information to the command vehicle, and receive positioning commands to position the robotic vehicle for drilling into the hang-up location, implant an explosive, and withdraw.

A system and method for relieving hang-ups, comprising a mobile command vehicle operative to transport a robotic vehicle to a control location remote from a hang-up location; the robotic vehicle operative to advance from the control location to the hang-up location, scan the hang-up location, transmit scanning information to the command vehicle, and receive positioning commands to position the robotic vehicle for drilling into the hang-up location, implant an explosive, and withdraw.

A system and method for drilling a borehole using a drilling rig having a rotary drill bit includes monitoring one or more drilling parameters; determining whether the one or more monitored drilling parameters are within predetermined specifications for one or more of the monitored drill parameters; and, executing an exception control procedure for control of a drilling parameter. The exception control procedure receives an input sensor value associated with a drilling parameter and applies feedback control to establish a scaled error value that is used to compute a setting value for the drilling parameter. The drilling parameters controlled may include the rotation speed of the drill bit, the feed rate of the drill bit, the weight-on-bit, or rotation torque during retraction of the drill bit. A computer-readable database of specifications of drill bits may be provided as a part of the system.

A blast plan control system and method used to control a drill and blast event is disclosed. The system and method customizes results for specific conditions. The system can receive certain inputs, such as conditions of the area to be blasted and the desired rock fragment size, and use these inputs to output a plurality of blast plans characterized by a set of characteristics that achieve the desired fragmentation size. A user can select a blast plan for execution from the plurality of blast plans. When the control system receives a selected blast plan, the control system can generate a work order for the selected blast plan and communicate the work order to operators and/or drilling equipment associated with execution of the drill and blast event. The operators and/or drilling equipment can then prepare for and execute the selected blast plan.

A blast plan control system and method used to control a drill and blast event is disclosed. The system and method customizes results for specific conditions. The system can receive certain inputs, such as conditions of the area to be blasted and the desired rock fragment size, and use these inputs to output a plurality of blast plans characterized by a set of characteristics that achieve the desired fragmentation size. A user can select a blast plan for execution from the plurality of blast plans. When the control system receives a selected blast plan, the control system can generate a work order for the selected blast plan and communicate the work order to operators and/or drilling equipment associated with execution of the drill and blast event. The operators and/or drilling equipment can then prepare for and execute the selected blast plan.