ABB, a technology leader in electrification and automation, has successfully completed testing of the industry-first automated robot charging technology for underground mines
Delivered in partnership with mine operators Boliden and LKAB, the project aimed to improve safety in underground mines by automating charging the blasting holes with explosives.
Blasting schedules in underground mines can vary, but the process takes place up to 15 times per day in larger mines as chambers are expanded to extract mineral and metal ores. ABB Robot Charger automatically detects boreholes and fills them with charges, removing the need for people to be near the unsupported rock face during blasting sequences.
The completed testing phase confirms the effectiveness of integrating the robot charger with a carrier vehicle, communication with bulk emulsion and vision systems and incorporation of a second robot arm to assemble prime and detonator.
ABB is now embarking on the final stage of development that aims to execute the full blasting sequence in the underground mine with full control of the robot handed over to the customer. ABB is also starting discussions with other mine operators to eventually join the co-development project, so that the technology can be tested in different mine environments and in regions beyond Northern Europe with varying climate and rock composition.
Vedrana Spudic, head of technology, business line mining, ABB, remarked, “This is a significant technology development for ABB and the wider industry where safety is part of overall ESG commitments. The robot locates the drilled holes on the rock face using a vision system, and these recent tests show all can be reached and charged with the cycle fully automated. This removes the need for human operators in a small, unsupported area right at the face.”
With the ability to be retrofitted to any truck, the robot charger technology by ABB has been delivered with vision systems and automation solutions to communicate with the truck, crane and ABB industrial robotic arm.
