Enhanced Performance of Robotic Drilling Tools using High Frequency Vibration

钻探石油和天然气是一项昂贵的活动（每天约100万英镑）。钻机是复杂的机器人机器，能够使用姿态传感器自主控制其转向，同时在一些最极端和最具挑战性的环境中工作（高达3000 psi- 200个大气压-和120 C，并在钻井“泥浆”中操作-旨在防止井喷的重液体）。钻机性能的任何改进都具有潜在的巨大经济效益，这就是本项目的目标。Magna Parva将研究通过在切削齿前施加高频振动来提高这些钻头性能的可行性（特别是在花岗岩或大理石等硬岩中）。这种振动有两个潜在的效果：（a）在岩石中产生微裂纹和（B）减少摩擦。后者特别有趣，因为它可以帮助机器人钻机的自主转向，所以我们将在钻井泥浆下进行“湿”摩擦计测量。

Drilling for oil and gas is a costly activity (around £1M/day). The drills are complex robotic machines, capable of autonomously controlling their steering using attitude sensors while working in some of the most extreme and challenging environments (up to 3000psi - 200 atmospheres - and 120C, and operating in drilling "mud" - heavy liquid designed to prevent well blowouts). Any enhancement to the performance of the drill has potentially large economic benefits, and that is the objective of this project. Magna Parva will investigate the feasibility of enhancing the performance of these drills (especially in hard rock such as granite or marble) by applying high frequency vibrations ahead of the cutting teeth. Such vibrations have two potential effects: (a) generating microcracks in the rock and (b) reducing friction. This latter is particularly interesting, because it may assist the autonomous steering of the robotic drill, so we will make "wet" tribometer measurements under drilling mud.