Method and system for integrating sensors on an autonomous mining drilling rig

An autonomous drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a carriage comprising a mast (204);
• a rotary head (202) configured to traverse up and down the mast (204);
• and
• a radio tachometer system, comprising:
• a tachometer transmitter (302) configured to travel with the rotary head and configured to send a wireless radio signal to a tachometer receiver (304), wherein the tachometer transmitter comprises a connector (306) configured to engage with a pulse pick-up (PPU) sensor, wherein the PPU sensor measures revolutions per unit time of a drill pipe (212);
• the tachometer receiver (304) configured to receive the wireless signal from the tachometer transmitter (302), wherein the wireless signal comprises the measured revolutions per minute of the drill pipe (212);
• and
• a tachometer (310) operatively connected to the receiver (304) and configured to display the measured revolutions per minute.

A radio tachometer system in an autonomous mining drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a tachometer transmitter (302) configured to send a wireless radio signal to a tachometer receiver (304), wherein the wireless signal comprises measured revolutions per minute of a drill pipe (212);
• the tachometer receiver (304) configured to receive the wireless signal from the tachometer transmitter (302);
• and
• a tachometer (310) operatively connected to the tachometer receiver (304) and configured to display the measured revolutions per minute.

A method for using a radio tachometer system employed in an autonomous drilling rig, comprising:

• obtaining, by a radio tachometer transmitter, data measured by a sensor configured to measure revolutions per minute of a drill pipe,
• wherein the radio tachometer transmitter is operatively connected to the sensor and located on a rotary head of the autonomous drilling rig;
• wirelessly transmitting the measured revolutions per minute to a radio tachometer receiver;
• and
• displaying the sensor data on a tachometer for analysis by a remote operator.

A drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a carriage comprising a mast (204);
• a rotary head (202) configured to traverse up and down the mast (204), wherein the rotary head (202) is powered using hydraulic energy;
• and
• a radio tachometer system, comprising:
• a tachometer transmitter (302) configured to travel with the rotary head and configured to send a wireless radio signal to a tachometer receiver (304), wherein the tachometer transmitter (302) comprises a connector (306) configured to engage with a pulse pick-up (PPU) sensor, wherein the PPU sensor measures revolutions per unit time of a drill pipe (212);
• the tachometer receiver (304) configured to receive the wireless signal from the tachometer transmitter (302), wherein the wireless signal comprises the measured revolutions per unit time of the drill pipe (212);
• and
• a tachometer (310) operatively connected to the tachometer receiver (304) and configured to display the measured revolutions per unit time.

A drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a carriage comprising a mast (204);
• a rotary head (202) configured to traverse up and down the mast (204);
• and
• a radio tachometer system, comprising:
• a tachometer transmitter (302) configured to travel with the rotary head (202) and configured to send a wireless radio signal to a tachometer receiver (304), wherein the tachometer transmitter (302) comprises a connector (306) configured to engage with a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter of the drilling rig (200);
• the tachometer receiver (304) configured to:
• receive the wireless signal from the tachometer transmitter (302), wherein the wireless signal comprises the measured operating parameter, and
• transmit the measured operating parameter to a remote site,
• wherein the measured operating parameter is displayed on a display unit (610) located at the remote site or used as input into a control system configured to optimize drilling by the drilling rig (200).

A mining drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a carriage comprising a mast (204);
• a rotary head (202) configured to traverse up and down the mast (204);
• and
• a unit mounted to or traveling with the rotary head that contains a wireless radio tachometer system comprising a tachometer transmitter (302) and a tachometer receiver (304) configured to communicate using a wireless radio frequency signal,
• wherein the unit is configured to self-power using power harvesting,
• wherein power harvesting is performed using hydraulic energy to one of directly power the tachometer transmitter (302) or to re-charge a battery configured to power the unit.

A method for using a wireless transmitter system employed in a mining drilling rig to collect data during a drilling process, comprising:

• inserting a drill string operatively connected to a rotary head downhole, wherein the drill string comprises at least one component comprising a sensor for measuring data downhole and a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the sensor;
• collecting data, by the wireless transmitter, measured by the at least one sensor during the drilling process;
• withdrawing the drill string from downhole;
• and
• wirelessly transmitting the collected data to a wireless receiver, upon withdrawal of the drill string.

A mining drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a carriage comprising a mast (204);
• a rotary head (202) configured to traverse up and down the mast (204);
• a wireless transmission system, comprising:
• a wireless transmitter (208) mounted on the rotary head (202) and configured to transmit a wireless signal to a wireless receiver (210), wherein the wireless transmitter (210) comprises a first connector (209) configured to engage with a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is located directly beneath the rotary head and is configured to measure at least one operating parameter;
• the wireless receiver (210) configured to receive the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter (208), wherein the wireless signal comprises the at least one measured operating parameter,
• wherein the at least one operating parameter is displayed for analysis on a display unit (610) operatively connected to the wireless receiver (210),
• wherein the first sensor remains constantly within a range of transmission of the wireless transmission system while drilling using the mining drilling rig (200).

A mining drilling rig (200), comprising:

• a carriage comprising a mast (204);
• a rotary head (202) configured to traverse up and down the mast (204);
• a wireless transmission system, comprising:
• a wireless transmitter (208) mounted on the rotary head (202) and configured to transmit a wireless signal to a wireless receiver (210), wherein the wireless transmitter (208) comprises a first connector (209) configured to engage with a first sensor, wherein the sensor measures at least one operating parameter;
• the wireless receiver (210) configured to receive the wireless signal from the wireless transmitter (208), wherein the wireless signal comprises the at least one measured operating parameter,
• wherein the at least one operating parameter is displayed for analysis on a display unit (610) operatively connected to the wireless receiver (210);
• and
• a drill string (212) comprising a component capable of being one of altered, reconfigured, or re-set as a result of a bi-lateral communication using the transmitted wireless signal.