Abstract: An anti-jam control system for mobile drilling machines is disclosed. The anti-jam control system may include a method for automatically clearing a jam during an automatic drilling mode of a mobile drilling machine including a drill bit mounted on a drill string. The method may include: monitoring a feed rate of the drill bit during the automatic drilling mode; and automatically initiating an anti-jam operation when the feed rate is below a predetermined feed rate threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic force adjustment control system for mobile drilling machines and methods for automatically adjusting a force on a down-the-hole drill bit of a drill string of a mobile drilling machine. A method may include: monitoring bit air pressure of the down-the-hole drill bit during an automatic down-the-hole drilling operation; and automatically adjusting a force provided to the drill string based on the monitored bit air pressure so that the bit air pressure approaches a target air pressure value.

Abstract: A collar control system and methods for mobile drilling machines are disclosed. One method may include: automatically initiating rotation of a drill bit based on collar settings; automatically feeding the drill bit at a feed rate to form an initial hole at a predetermined reaming increment; and automatically retracting the drill bit from the initial hole when the predetermined reaming increment is achieved, but prior to reaching a collar depth. Another method may include: measuring values of multiple drill bit inputs at a predetermined sample depth region during the collar operation; storing average values for each of the drill bit inputs over the predetermined sample depth region; monitoring values of the drill bit inputs when the drill bit moves beyond the predetermined sample depth region; and ending the collar operation prior to a desired collar depth when any of the monitored values change by a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic force adjustment control system for mobile drilling machines and methods for automatically adjusting a force on a down-the-hole drill bit of a drill string of a mobile drilling machine. A method may include: monitoring bit air pressure of the down-the-hole drill bit during an automatic down-the-hole drilling operation; and automatically adjusting a force provided to the drill string based on the monitored bit air pressure so that the bit air pressure approaches a target air pressure value.

Abstract: An anti jam control system for mobile drilling machines is disclosed. The anti jam control system may include a method for automatically clearing a jam during an automatic drilling mode of a mobile drilling machine including a drill bit mounted on a drill string. The method may include: monitoring a feed rate of the drill bit during the automatic drilling mode; and automatically initiating an anti jam operation when the feed rate is below a predetermined feed rate threshold.

Abstract: A collar control system and methods for mobile drilling machines are disclosed. One method may include: automatically initiating rotation of a drill bit based on collar settings; automatically feeding the drill bit at a feed rate to form an initial hole at a predetermined reaming increment; and automatically retracting the drill bit from the initial hole when the predetermined reaming increment is achieved, but prior to reaching a collar depth. Another method may include: measuring values of multiple drill bit inputs at a predetermined sample depth region during the collar operation; storing average values for each of the drill bit inputs over the predetermined sample depth region; monitoring values of the drill bit inputs when the drill bit moves beyond the predetermined sample depth region; and ending the collar operation prior to a desired collar depth when any of the monitored values change by a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for automated control of a drilling operation of a blast hole drilling machine using a down-the-hole drill bit mounted on a drill string is disclosed. The method may include: receiving input data from a user input including information of the drill bit, drill string weight, and desired hole settings; receiving a command from the user to initiate an automatic down-the-hole operation; identifying a location of the down-the-hole drill bit; and using the received input data and based on the location of the down-the-hole drill bit, automatically initiating the steps of: collaring a hole; drilling the hole; and retracting the drill when the hole is drilled.