Path optimisation for drill rigs: a step toward full automation in mining

<p dir="ltr">The mining industry is advancing toward full automation, with drill and blast operations identified as critical bottlenecks in achieving this goal. Although some drilling tasks have been automated, key aspects, such as drilling rigs' programming and tramming (i.e., path planning), still rely on human input. This paper proposes an exact optimisation methodology to optimise drill rig paths by identifying the most efficient routes. The model evaluates multiple path planning scenarios to select the optimal path, showing a notable 64% reduction in total travelled distance compared to manual tramming in an application of a case study. Furthermore, the generated paths in this study align more closely with the physical constraints of drill rigs during tramming, enhancing operational feasibility and efficiency.</p>