Robotics and AutomationRobotics and Automation
  • News
      • Aeronautics
      • Aerospace
      • Agriculture
      • AGVs
      • AI
      • AMRs
      • Assembly
      • Automotive
      • Aviation
      • Cobots
      • Construction
      • Cosmetics
      • Defence
      • Deliveries
      • F&B
      • Facilities
      • Funding
      • Healthcare
      • Industrial
      • Infrastructure
      • Life sciences
      • Logistics
      • Machine vision
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine
      • Packaging
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Product
      • R&D
      • Retail
      • RPA
      • Security
      • Services
      • Sport
      • Sustainability
      • Transportation
      • Unmanned systems
      • Warehousing
  • Features
  • Digital Magazines
    • May 2023
    • March 2023
    • October 2022
    • July 2022
    • April 2022
  • Corporate Insight
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • Comment
  • Case Studies
  • Events
LinkedIn Twitter
  • Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Robotics & Automation Awards
  • Robotics and Automation Exhibition
LinkedIn Twitter
Robotics and AutomationRobotics and Automation
SUBSCRIBE >
  • News
      • Aeronautics
      • Aerospace
      • Agriculture
      • AGVs
      • AI
      • AMRs
      • Assembly
      • Automotive
      • Aviation
      • Cobots
      • Construction
      • Cosmetics
      • Defence
      • Deliveries
      • F&B
      • Facilities
      • Funding
      • Healthcare
      • Industrial
      • Infrastructure
      • Life sciences
      • Logistics
      • Machine vision
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine
      • Packaging
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Product
      • R&D
      • Retail
      • RPA
      • Security
      • Services
      • Sport
      • Sustainability
      • Transportation
      • Unmanned systems
      • Warehousing
  • Features
  • Digital Magazines
    1. November 2023
    2. July 2023
    3. May 2023
    4. March 2023
    5. October 2022
    6. July 2022
    Featured

    Robotics & Automation – November 2023

    November 1, 2023By John Thornton
    Recent
    November 1, 2023

    Robotics & Automation – November 2023

    July 5, 2023

    Robotics & Automation – July 2023

    May 5, 2023

    Robotics & Innovation – May 2023

  • Corporate Insight
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • Comment
  • Case Studies
  • Events
    • Robotics & Automation Awards
    • Robotics & Automation Exhibition
Robotics and AutomationRobotics and Automation
LinkedIn Twitter
Infrastructure

Testing completed of ‘industry-first’ automated robot charger for increased safety in underground mines

John ThorntonBy John ThorntonNovember 3, 20232 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Email Facebook

Robotics & Automation Awards 2023 winner ABB has successfully completed testing of an industry-first automated robot charging technology for underground mines in partnership with mine operators Boliden and LKAB.

The aim is to make mines safer by automating one of few remaining manual processes in mining: charging blasting holes with explosives.

According to ABB, which won the ‘Best Use of Robotics or Automation in Construction Award’ at Robotics & Automation Awards 2023 earlier this week, blasting schedules in underground mines can vary, but the process takes place up to 15 times per day in larger mines as miners expand the chambers to extract mineral and metal ores.

The ABB Robot Charger has been developed to automatically detect boreholes and fill them with charges without the presence of humans, removing the need for people to be near the unsupported rock face during blasting sequences.

The completed testing phase reportedly confirmed 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.

It is also said to have ensured full reach to all borehole levels and areas of the rock face and remote control for operators.

The programme is being undertaken at Boliden Garpenberg, which is one of the world’s most productive underground zinc mines and is located 180km (112 miles) northwest of Stockholm.

ABB is now embarking on the final stage of development, which aims to execute the full blasting sequence in the underground mine with full control of the robot handed over to the customer.

ABB has also started 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.

“This is a significant technology development for ABB and the wider industry where safety is part of overall ESG commitments,” said Vedrana Spudic, head of technology, business line mining, ABB.

“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.”

The technology includes vision systems and automation solutions to communicate with the truck, crane and ABB industrial robotic arm.

Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
John Thornton
  • LinkedIn

John joined Akabo Media in August 2019 and has worked in B2B publishing since 2013, editing engineering technology titles serving the automotive, marine and sports and entertainment venue sectors. Currently editor of City Transport & Traffic Innovation and Robotics & Innovation magazines, John co-ordinates the day-the-day operations of both titles, using independent editorial content as a platform to bring buyers and sellers together via print and online. In addition to the magazines, John also serves as a chair for the annual Road User Charging Conference in Brussels and can be found sniffing out breaking news stories throughout the halls of Akabo Media’s industry-leading exhibitions.

Related Stories

US Navy to use robotics for weld inspections

November 15, 2023

Siemens and Elvia partner on SaaS solution to improve grid management in Norway

November 14, 2023

US firm builds self-righting robot that can get up after falling

November 8, 2023
Latest News Stories
November 29, 2023

Quicktron and Romanian firm collaborate on end-to-end robotics solutions

November 29, 2023

Movu Robotics and KPI partner on custom warehouse automation

November 29, 2023

Wine vendor automates supply chain with Körber solutions

November 28, 2023

They see me rolling

Get the 'best of the week' from Robotics & Automation direct to your inbox every week, for free!


Key Sections
  • News
  • Features
  • Digital Magazines
  • Video
  • Corporate Insight
  • Case Studies
  • Events
Akabo Media
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Events
  • CiTTi Awards
  • IntraLogisteX
  • Robotics & Automation Awards
  • Robotics and Automation Exhibition
  • Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific
  • Road User Charging Conference Brussels
  • Road User Charging Conference USA
  • Supply Chain Excellence Awards
© 2023 Akabo Media Ltd Registered No 07766641 England | All rights reserved.
Registered Office: Akabo Media, GG.007, Metal Box Factory, 30 Great Guildford St, SE1 0HS
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to browse our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Cookie settingsOK
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognise unique visitors.
_ga_*1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.
CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded YouTube videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
CookieDurationDescription
OAID1 yearCookie set to record whether the user has opted out of the collection of information by the AdsWizz Service Cookies.
test_cookie15 minutesdoubleclick.net sets this cookie to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysYouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSCsessionYoutube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt.innertube::nextIdneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requestsneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo