Epiroc Launches Autonomous SmartROC D65 Drill Rig

A partnership between Epiroc and Luck Stone has delivered the first fully autonomous SmartROC D65 drill rig to the United States aggregate market. This deployment marks the initial delivery of a completely autonomous surface drill to quarry operations globally. The SmartROC D65 MKII functions without requiring an operator in the cab, executing complete drill patterns through remote supervision systems.

Technical specifications indicate the equipment meets Global Mining Guidelines Group Level 4 standards for full autonomy. Integration occurs through Epiroc's Common Automation Panel and Link Open Autonomy platform for fleet management capabilities. Luck Stone brings experience from previous autonomous plant operations and haulage systems to this collaboration. Industry observers note the partnership's potential impact on quarry automation adoption across the substantial U.S. aggregate market.

"Luck Stone's leadership and commitment demonstrate that autonomy in quarries isn't future vision – it's current reality. Our partnership is not about a proof-of-concept, it's about meaningful operational gains that the next generation of drilling will bring in the U.S." said Ron Hankins, Business Line Manager at Epiroc USA.

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