Method and system for controlling a plurality of drill rigs

A method for remotely controlling a set of autonomous mining drill rigs at a selected set of surface mine sites, each autonomous drill rig having a drill shutdown module adapted to disable a function of the respective drill rig upon receipt of a deactivation command, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting said set of surface mine sites to be associated with a deactivation control;
• storing said association between said deactivation control and said set of surface mine sites at a control centre controller;
• restricting selection of drill rigs by a drill control station coupled to said deactivation control to drill rigs located at said set of surface mine sites;
• sending a deactivation control to said control centre controller, upon activation of said deactivation control;
• and
• the control centre controller transmitting the deactivation command to all drill rigs located at all mine sites in said set of surface mine sites, wherein the drill shutdown module on each drill rig disables a function of said respective drill rig on receipt of said deactivation command,
• wherein at least one of:
• (a) the drill shutdown module includes a switch coupled to an ignition of said drill rig,
• (b) the drill shutdown module is adapted to cut fuel supply to said drill rig, and
• (c) the deactivation control includes an electromechanical switch.

A control system for remotely controlling operation of mobile autonomous mining drill rigs, comprising:

• a plurality of autonomous mining drill rigs, each drill rig including:
• a wireless receiver for coupling the respective drill to a wireless communications network for receiving control signals, and
• a drill shutdown module for effecting shutoff of power to said drill rig;
• a remote control centre coupled to said wireless communications network, said remote control centre including:
• an interface for selecting a set of said plurality of autonomous mining drill rigs to be controlled by a drill controller;
• and
• a deactivation control adapted to send, when activated, a shutdown command to each drill rig in said selected set of autonomous mining drill rigs,
• wherein when each drill rig in said selected set of autonomous mining drill rigs receives said shutdown command, said drill shutdown module shuts off power to said drill rig, and
• wherein at least one of:
• (a) the drill shutdown module includes a switch coupled to an ignition of said drill rig,
• (b) the drill shutdown module adapted to cut fuel supply to said drill rig, and
• (c) the deactivation control includes an electromechanical switch.

A method for remotely effecting a shutdown of a set of autonomous mining drill rigs, comprising the steps of:

• allocating the set of autonomous mining drill rigs to a deactivation control associated with a drill control station, the drill control station being coupled to each of said autonomous mining drill rigs via a communications network,
• wherein each autonomous drill rig includes a drill shutdown module adapted to shut off power to the respective drill rig,
• wherein activating said deactivation control sends a shutdown signal from said drill control station, via said communications network, to the drill shutdown module on each autonomous drill rig in said set of autonomous mining drill rigs,
• wherein each drill shutdown module shuts down power to the respective drill rig, on receipt of the shutdown signal, and
• wherein at least one of:
• (a) the drill shutdown module includes a switch coupled to an ignition of said drill rig,
• (b) the drill shutdown module is adapted to cut fuel supply to said drill rig, and
• (c) the deactivation control includes an electromechanical switch.