Abstract: An adaptive apparatus for driving a threaded device into material, the apparatus including a rotating driving bit, a sensor for sensing during said driving a first quantity related to the material's properties, memory means for storing sensed values of said first quantity, and a feedback arrangement which processes the values sensed by the sensor in comparison to known data to characterise the material and to determine a shut-off condition at which safe and effective engagement of the threaded device in the material is achieved, wherein the feedback arrangement ceases rotation of said driving bit when said shut-off condition is achieved.