Epiroc, Luck Stone Deploy Autonomous Drill

Luck Stone has begun using a fully autonomous Epiroc SmartROC D65 drill rig, the first fully autonomous surface drill delivered to the quarry market worldwide, according to Epiroc.

The SmartROC D65 MKII can execute complete drill patterns without an operator in the cab. Compliant with the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) Level 4 standard for full autonomy, the rig operates under remote supervision via Epiroc’s Common Automation Panel (CAP) and Link Open Autonomy (LinkOA) platform.

Read today’s top news.

“Luck Stone’s leadership and commitment demonstrate that autonomy in quarries isn’t future vision—it’s current reality,” said Ron Hankins, business line manager at Epiroc USA, in a statement. “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.”

Luck Stone, known for its early adoption of autonomous plants and autonomous haulage systems (AHS), views automation as a strategic investment in safety, operational excellence, and talent attraction.

“Our philosophy has always been about doing the work in the best possible way,” said Chuck Stilson, senior director of engineering at Luck Stone. “Partnering with Epiroc on autonomous drilling aligns perfectly with that vision. We’re not only improving productivity and safety, we’re providing new opportunities for our associates and rethinking what’s possible in aggregates.”