Improving the efficiency of management and performance of autonomous drilling depending on geocryological factors

E.P. Kochetkov, V.N. Alferov, P.V. Trifonov, S.V. Kashirin, L.P. Mokrova
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №3/ 2026 p. 185-193

Abstract: This study offers a quantitative assessment of the performance dynamics of autonomous drilling rigs in openpit mining in permafrost zones. This research is relevant due to intensive development of deposits in the permafrost zone of Yakutia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Chukotka, and the Arctic regions of Canada and Australia, where the ground temperatures (from –2 to –12°C) significantly modify blasthole drilling parameters. The objective of this study is to establish patterns of changes in key performance indicators for autonomous drilling depending on geocryological factors and to develop a predictive performance model. The methodological basis includes a comparative analysis of the operational data of 14 drilling rigs (7 autonomous, 7 manually controlled) of the Epiroc Pit Viper 271/351 and Sandvik DR412i series, which were in operation in four open-pits in the permafrost zone during the period of 2020–2025; statistical processing of 48,600 drilling runs using the regression and the dispersion analysis methods; a correlation analysis of the relationship between the rock mass temperature and the mechanical penetration rate. The total volume of the analyzed drilling data amounted to 1.87 million linear meters. It was found that the autonomous drilling rigs ensure an average increase in the utilization factor of 18.4% (from 0.61 to 0.72) compared to the manual operation mode. The drilling rate in frozen rock with the hardness factor of f = 8–14 in the autonomous mode reaches 18.7 m/h compared to 14.2 m/h in the manual mode (a 31.7% increase). The borehole positioning accuracy improves by 62% with the depth accuracy increasing by 84%, which reduces overdrilling by 0.38 m per borehole. The diesel fuel consumption is reduced by 12.6%. A nonlinear dependence of the productivity on the rock mass temperature was revealed, i.e. with a decrease from –3 to –8 °C, the drilling rate increases by 9.4% due to the increased strength of the ice-cemented rock. However, at the temperatures below –8°C, the increase slows down due to higher wear rate of the drilling tool. These results make it possible to optimize drilling and blasting operations planning in permafrost open-pits and to justify the economic viability of transition to the autonomous drilling systems.

Keywords: autonomous drilling rigs, open pit mining, permafrost, drilling productivity, utilization factor, drilling and blasting operations, cryolithozone

For citation: Kochetkov E.P., Alferov V.N., Trifonov P.V., Kashirin S.V., Mokrova L.P. Improving the efficiency of management and performance of autonomous drilling depending on geocryological factors. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(3):185–193. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-3-185-193

Article info

Received: 08.02.2026

Revised: 24.03.2026

Accepted: 02.04.2026

Information about the authors

Evgeny P. Kochetkov – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor of the Department of General and Project Management, Faculty of Higher School of Management, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1136-6804; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Valery N. Alferov – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor of the Department of General and Project Management, Faculty of Higher School of Management, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0719-1087; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pavel V. Trifonov – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor of the Department of Operational and Industry Management, Faculty of Higher School of Management, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2228-5441; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sergey V. Kashirin – Cand. Sci. (Hist.), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Operational and Industry Management, Faculty of Higher School of Management, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9401-2867; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lidiia P. Mokrova – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor of the Department of Operational and Industry Management, Faculty of Higher School of Management, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0190-9166; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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