Automated drill control system for a mobile drilling machine

A mobile drilling machine, comprising:

• a drilling mast including a mast frame;
• a rotary head movably mounted on the mast frame, the rotary head controllable to rotate a drill string at desired drill string rotation speeds, wherein the rotary head is further controllable to move up and down the mast frame at desired drill string feed speeds;
• a joystick movable to control the desired drill string rotation speeds and the desired drill string feed speeds of the rotary head, wherein the joystick is movable in a left and right direction corresponding to an x-axis and movable in a forward and backward direction corresponding to a y-axis;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive a current desired drill string rotation speed and drill string feed speed information from the joystick;
• and
• lock the current desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed upon activation of a switch mechanism,
• wherein when locked, the drill string rotation speed and drill string feed speed remain at the locked current desired drill string rotation speed and the desired drill string feed speed as the joystick is returned to a neutral position, and
• wherein when locked, the drill string rotation speed is selectively increased or decreased by moving the joystick along the one of the x-axis or y-axis, and the drill string feed speed is selectively increased, stopped, or reversed by moving the joystick along the other of the x-axis or y-axis.