Atlas Copco’s new rig control system wins an international award
Atlas Copco was named a bronze winner of the IDEA 2013 competition for the interface design of the new Rig Control System RCS 5.
1 of 1The RCS 5 is used as the primary user interface between the rig and the operator: assisting, monitoring and controlling the rig and enabling local or remote control. — Photo courtesy Atlas Copco
Atlas Copco has been named one of the winners of the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) 2013 competition for the interface design of the new rig control system RCS 5. The IDEA competition is sponsored by the Industrial Designers Society of America. It was established in 1980 and ranks among the most prestigious international design competitions. Atlas Copco’s new rig control system, RCS 5, received a bronze in the digital design category.
RCS 5 is a hardware and software interface solution designed for drill rigs. It is used as the primary user interface between the rig and the operator: assisting, monitoring and controlling the rig and enabling local or remote control. The system also logs status, events and error information for future analysis.
The interface is designed to accommodate different scenarios such as an ambidextrous user, color blindness and variable light conditions, and it fulfills all industry and usability standards. By using self-explanatory symbols, the solution works globally.
How it works
Navigation within the system is by means of a 15-inch touch screen display. Drilling is controlled through two multifunctional joysticks, with primary functions grouped in the top of the joysticks. This allows the operator to focus on the drilling instead of searching for functions on the display. The result is an optimal work flow, with organized information and increased usability.
Johan Jonsson, product manager at Atlas Copco, said the advantages of this fifth generation control system are astounding.
"The two main advantages with the new system are the improved ergonomics and the simplicity of the system," said Jonsson. "Thanks to our new multifunctional joysticks we have been able to group the primary functions during drilling at the fingertips of the operator. With this new design the operator can activate and switch between functions without removing their eyes from the face, which increases both productivity and safety.
"This also improves the ergonomic working situation for the operator. He can have his hands steady at the armrest around the joysticks and doesn’t have to move his hands around."
The other main advantage, according to Jonsson, is simplicity.
" We have worked hard with the user interface and tried to create a user-friendly and intuitive software," said Jonsson. "Together with our industrial design department we have looked into hard factors like colour blindness and variable light conditions, but we have also prioritized self-explaining symbols in the menus instead of text, for easier handling in a multilanguage working environment. We have also created a simple structure of all the menus and used the touch functions to help the operator to navigate in menus, select functions and adjust settings directly on the screen."
"As intuitive as a cell phone"
"There is a clear change in the generation of drillers today," said Jonsson, "and there is a huge volume of younger operators with limited experience coming into the mining industry. For them we need to supply a system that doesn’t need a huge amount of training and help the driller to be up to speed in a shorter time. The system should be as intuitive a cell phone."
Drilling technology has come a long way, even though computer-based control systems for drilling jumbos have been around for many years.
"Atlas Copco launched its first version of the RCS system in 1998 and we have seen a steady growth over the years," Jonsson said. "During the last few years we have seen a increase in inquiries regarding higher degree of automations and drill rigs with RCS systems compared to traditionally direct hydraulic controlled jumbos. So I think that the complete industry is moving toward a higher level of computer assistance in the drilling and is seeking for a higher level of automation compared to the past—and RCS5 will be the next step. As examples for today, you can see a clear request from the global market for computerized drill plan assistance that didn’t exist some years ago."
