Automated Face Drill Machine with LiDAR Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual drilling in mining and excavation leads to imprecise hole directions and orientations, resulting in uneven rock faces and increased risk of collisions due to the reliance on operator judgment and the complexity of underground environments.
Innovation Solution
An automated drilling system equipped with a LiDAR sensor and computer-controlled drilling machine that creates a topological image of the mine, determines kinematic redundancy, and uses algorithms to move the drill and boom safely, avoiding collisions by analyzing potential intersections and adjusting the drilling plan based on the actual rock face profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual drilling is used with operator judgment, then the system is simpler and easier to operate, but the drilling precision and consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical drilling operations with an automated drilling system that uses computer-controlled mechanisms. The system automatically positions and orients the drill based on pre-programmed parameters, eliminating reliance on operator judgment while maintaining ease of operation through centralized control interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The drilling system incorporates self-positioning and self-adjustment capabilities through automated feedback mechanisms. The system can automatically compensate for deviations and adjust drilling parameters without continuous manual intervention, achieving both precision and operational simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If automated drilling is implemented, then drilling precision and consistency improve, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated drilling system is designed as a multi-functional integrated platform that combines positioning, drilling, monitoring, and control functions in a single system. This universal approach reduces overall complexity by eliminating the need for separate manual operations for each function while maintaining high precision through coordinated automation.
3Device complexity
If manual drilling operations are performed, then the equipment is simpler, but the productivity and drilling speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The automated drilling system enables continuous drilling operations without the interruptions inherent in manual drilling. The system can maintain consistent drilling speed and depth progression through automated feed mechanisms and continuous monitoring, significantly improving productivity while the modular design keeps equipment complexity manageable.
4Reliability
If automated collision avoidance algorithms are used, then collision risk decreases, but the computational requirements and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary collision analysis by pre-processing the three-dimensional map data and identifying potential collision zones before drilling operations begin. This advance preparation allows the automated algorithm to make rapid real-time decisions during drilling without excessive processing delays, maintaining both safety and efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves consistent and accurate drilling results, reduces manual labor, and minimizes collisions by enabling precise control of drilling vectors and movement within the mine environment, ensuring safe and efficient excavation.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor may comprise a LiDAR unit
Data Source
AI summary
A drilling machine, including a drill and a boom, are used for drilling boreholes in the face of a mine. A sensor may scan the mine and create a virtual environment representing the mine based on that scan. The drilling machine may include a computer for moving the drill and the boom from a first position to a second position based at least partially on evaluation of the kinematic redundancy of the drill and boom. This may be used to avoid a collision in moving the drill and boom from the first position to the second position.