Features

DrillStar is ideal for real-time drilling applications, since drill operators can navigate in harsh weather conditions. The touch screen mounted in the cab provides depth and position information. Pattern layout can be transferred from the supervisor's desk to the machine. Field employees are empowered by giving them instant feedback on their design performance and allowing them to drill to the proper depth even on rough terrain without survey stakes. Excessive movement and tramming of the machine is eliminated, as well as over or under drilling, which ultimately means less maintenance and cost.

DrillStar will guide your drill to each hole and track the depth, location, operator, drillability, and any other user-defined information desired. Blast designs can be given to the drill, designed in the field, or completed on-the-fly one hole at a time. These blast designs combined with plan maps, multiple design surfaces, and bottom of hole designs provide the driller with a complete 3-D view of the drillhole and surrounding blast area.

The system is comprised of a dual-antenna GPS with cm-level accuracy and a ruggedized touch-screen computer. Currently, there is support for vertical drilling only, but testing is in progress on angle drilling. The greatest benefit of DrillStar is found when drilling angle holes, but savings are also found in vertical drilling. The most notable benefits in vertical drilling include: elimination of location marking before drilling; resultant uniform patterns from knowing the exact drill bit location; and automated reporting of "as-drilled" locations. Uniform patterns produce even and proper breakage for digging equipment, require the least amount of explosives for proper breakage, and result in the minimum drilled footage. Less footage drilled means less maintenance, less time to drill area, and lower costs.

When dealing with angled holes, since the GPS system provides a highly accurate reference, angled holes can be correctly oriented. Moreover, the GPS system can account for variations in the height of the bench, so the toe of the hole is correctly located. Thus, a more accurate pattern is drilled with consequently improved consistency of fragmentation, as is the case with vertical drilling too. During angle drilling, DrillStar aides in preventing the extremely dangerous situation of breakthrough on the face or of leaving an improper amount of burden.

Stored information can be used to determine drill productivity, model the ore-body, and satisfy regulatory requirements. In addition, unexpected items such as water or rocks, can be logged to aide the blasters when they load the hole. When DrillStar is combined with StarNet and Telescope, the drill location can be viewed in the office in real-time. The "as-drilled" plans can also be transferred back to the office and be used to assist in designing the blast or to satisfy statutory filing requirements.