Epiroc & Luck Stone Launch First Autonomous Drill

Richmond, Virginia – Epiroc Mining Limited., a mining and construction equipment company, has partnered with Luck Stone., a crushed stone producer, to launch the first fully autonomous SmartROC D65 MKII drill rig in the U.S. aggregate market. The milestone also marks the world’s first fully autonomous surface drill delivered to a quarry operation.

The SmartROC D65 MKII, equipped with Epiroc’s advanced automation system, can execute complete drill patterns without an operator in the cab. It meets the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) Level 4 autonomy standard, operating under remote supervision via Epiroc’s Common Automation Panel (CAP) and Link Open Autonomy (LinkOA) platform for seamless data integration and fleet management.

Mr. Ron Hankins, Business Line Manager at Epiroc USA, said, “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.”

Mr. Chuck Stilson, Senior Director of Engineering at Luck Stone, said, “Our philosophy has always been about doing the work in the best possible way. 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.”

Delivery of the drill was supported by James River Equipment, Epiroc’s dealer partner, which will also provide local service, training, and technical support.

The U.S. aggregate sector - the largest globally presents strong potential for automation. By leveraging mining-proven technology, the SmartROC D65 MKII helps quarries improve safety, optimize fleets, and address labor shortages.

Epiroc and Luck Stone plan to share performance data from this deployment, offering valuable insights to accelerate the adoption of autonomous solutions across the industry.

You must be logged in to respond.