Abstract: A control system for a raise boring machine drilling a pilot hole and related methods are disclosed. The control system includes a cuttings box for receiving and weighing cuttings ejected from the pilot hole during drilling. The cuttings box is configured to retain an amount of cuttings indicative of advancing the pilot hole substantially the length of a drill rod. A controller in communication with the cuttings box is configured to receive a signal reflective of a weight of cuttings in the cuttings box. The controller is further configured to compare the received signal to an expected weight criteria associated with the drill rod length, and to in response to the signal satisfying the expected cutting weight criteria, have cuttings ejected from the cuttings box.

Abstract: A stall control system for a raise boring machine is provided. In one implementation, the stall control system includes one or more hydraulic control valves connected to thrust cylinders of the raise boring machine to vent pressurize oil from a cap end of the thrust cylinders back to an oil tank or to a rod end of the thrust cylinders. In another implementation, the stall control system includes one or more hydraulic control valves connected to thrust cylinders of the raise boring machine to inject pressurized oil into a rod end of the thrust cylinders to increase pressure on the rod end of the thrust cylinders.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated leaky feeder and mesh network system. The system includes a plurality of mesh nodes, each mesh node comprising a radio, at least one of the mesh nodes being powered by a power source. The system also includes a radiating coaxial cable connecting the plurality of mesh nodes to provide a leaky feeder signal between the nodes.