Drilling Simulator Research Articles

Estimating Cognitive Workload Using Task-Related Pupillary Responses in Simulated Drilling in Cochlear Implantation.

Training of temporal bone drilling requires more than mastering technical skills with the drill. Skills such as visual imagery, bimanual dexterity, and stress management need to be mastered along with precise knowledge of anatomy. In otorhinolaryngology, these psychomotor skills underlie performance in the drilling of the temporal bone for access to the inner ear in cochlear implant surgery. However, little is known about how psychomotor skills and workload management impact the practitioners' continuous and overall performance. To understand how the practitioner's workload and performance unfolds over time, we examine task-evoked pupillary responses (TEPR) of 22 medical students who performed transmastoid-posterior tympanotomy (TMPT) and removal of the bony overhang of the round window niche in a 3D-printed model of the temporal bone. We investigate how students' TEPR metrics (Average Pupil Size [APS], Index of Pupil Activity [IPA], and Low/High Index of Pupillary Activity [LHIPA]) and time spent in drilling phases correspond to the performance in key drilling phases. All TEPR measures revealed significant differences between key drilling phases that corresponded to the anticipated workload. Enlarging the facial recess lasted significantly longer than other phases. IPA captured significant increase of workload in thinning of the posterior canal wall, while APS revealed increased workload during the drilling of the bony overhang. Our findings contribute to the contemporary competency-based medical residency programs where objective and continuous monitoring of participants' progress allows to track progress in expertise acquisition. Laryngoscope, 134:5087-5095, 2024.

Optimization of Drill Bit Geometries for Minimum Thermal Damage in Bone Drilling

Thermal injury is a common post-operative effect in bone drilling surgeries. The extreme heat generated during the drilling process kills bone cells, which causes irreversible bone death. This bone death loosens medical fixations—screws, plates, and implants—and subsequently refractures the bone. Research on drill bit geometries in bone drilling has attracted interest from engineering and medical researchers. However, previous research has mainly focused on the simulation of bone drilling, which could generate an incorrect approximation of thermal bone damage if the simulation model is not validated. For this reason, this study focuses on the optimization and parametric analysis of the bone temperature elevations induced by customized drill bit features—point angle (60-180°), web thickness (25-50 %), and helix angle (10-55°)—in comprehensive ex-vivo bone (bovine) experimental drilling tests. The L9 Taguchi optimization method was then applied to determine the optimal design to minimize maximum bone temperature rise. Results from the parametric analysis revealed that the optimal setup for the drill point features can be obtained with the ranges of point angle of 160-180°, web thickness of 25-30 %, and helix angle of 30-40°. Based on the Taguchi optimization results, the minimum thermal damage is produced with the point angle of 180°, web thickness of 25 %, and helix angle of 35°. This work offers a promising solution for reducing thermal injury and preventing thermal osteonecrosis in bone drilling surgeries.

Quantification of energy consumed in simulated percussive drilling process using dynamic indentation experiment

The high cost of drilling deep wells is the main barrier to the widespread exploitation of deep geothermal energy. Percussive drilling is one of the significant drilling technologies used in energy exploration projects. However, there is no good quantitative understanding of how much energy in percussive drilling is consumed in pulverization, heating, the kinetic energy of particles, acoustic emission, etc. In this study, energy efficiency is quantitatively investigated to understand the percussive drilling process better. The dynamic percussive drilling was evaluated using a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system and non-contact measurements. The amount of energy dissipated in different processes and the overall energy efficiency was estimated for Kuru granite, Balmoral granite, and Kivijärvi gabbro. The energy spent on the kinetic energy Ek of fragments was evaluated using a high-speed camera, whereas the energy consumed on heat or the thermal energy Et was obtained by high-speed infrared imaging. The cracking energy Ec was measured by using the surface energy of rock and the total newly created surface areas. The results indicate that the fragment size distribution of these three rocks generally varies with the penetration speed, and the fragmentation level of these rocks increases with the penetration speed. The input energy and the energy consumption grow with the increase of the penetration speed. The proportions of Et, Ek, and Ec in the total energy consumption for these three rocks increase with the penetration speed. The energy efficiency obtained from the dynamic indentation experiments for the three rocks generally increases with the penetration speed and almost approaches a limit value when the penetration speed is high. A model is improved to describe the relationship between energy efficiency and penetration speed quantitatively. Therefore, the penetration process should be optimized to balance the high drilling efficiency and the low energy consumption.

The Role of Virtual Reality in Advancing Surgical Training in Otolaryngology: A Systematic Review.

Technological advancements have rapidly transformed medical education and surgical training, with virtual reality (VR) emerging as a valuable tool. VR offers immersive and interactive environments, enhancing the development of surgical skills without the risks that come with conventional training methods. In this review, we conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), considering all relevant publications up to June 30, 2024. This review focused on randomized controlled trials involving medical students, where VR was used alone or in combination with other educational approaches, compared to traditional training methods. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of studies using the modified Downs and Black scale. Of 1,074 identified articles, six studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies, conducted in Denmark and Australia, utilized a range of VR platforms, including the Visible Ear Simulator, MediseusVR Surgical Drilling Simulator, and Geomagic Haptic device. Quality assessments showed that the studies generally had strong methodology, with reporting scores between 7 and 8 out of 11, and external validity scores between 2 and 3 out of 3. Results indicated that VR training has the potential to improve hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and surgical performance in ENT procedures. However, findings on VR's superiority over traditional methods were mixed, as some studies found no substantial differences in performance metrics. Overall, VR offers a controlled and risk-free training environment that may enhance the acquisition and retention of surgical skills in ENT surgery. Although VR demonstrates significant promise, additional research is needed to fully establish its effectiveness and explore its broader application in surgical education. This systematic review provides a detailed evaluation of VR's impact on ENT surgical training, highlighting its potential to transform the future of surgical education.

Foam Properties Evaluation under Harsh Conditions: Implications for Enhanced Eco-Friendly Underbalanced Drilling Practices

Summary Foam drilling offers advantages such as reduced formation damage and faster drilling in underbalanced drilling (UBD) operations. The efficacy of foam drilling is influenced by factors including pressure, temperature, salt content, foam quality, and pH levels. However, a gap exists in the evaluation of foam properties under rigorous conditions, particularly those involving high pH and mixed salt environments common in drilling scenarios, highlighting the need for further research. In this study, a high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) foam analyzer and rheometer were employed to examine the stability and rheological behavior of ammonium alchohol ether sulfate (AAES) foam under simulated alkaline drilling conditions. The foaming solution, designed to replicate such conditions, consisted of synthetic seawater (SW) with a salt mixture totaling approximately 67.70 g/L and a 0.5 wt.% foaming agent adjusted to a pH of 9.5. This approach differs from the individual salt studies prevalent in existing literature and provides a unique perspective on foam stability and behavior. Driven by environmental sustainability considerations, the effects of eco-friendly surfactant AAES and various drilling fluid additives: polyanionic cellulose (PAC), carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC), and xanthan gum (XG), were investigated for foam formulation. The apparent viscosity of the AAES foam was evaluated at different pressures and temperatures across varying shear rates. A consistent decrease in foam viscosity with increasing shear rates was observed, irrespective of pressure and temperature. An increase in foam viscosity was also noted with higher pressures (from 14.7 psi to 3,000 psi) at low shear rates, with values rising from 8.04 cp to 14.74 cp, and from 3.71 cp to 5.79 cp at high shear rates of 1,000 s⁻¹. Increasing foam quality from 65% to 85% resulted in significant improvements in viscosity, approximately 37% at low shear rates and about 79% at high shear rates. The introduction of additives to AAES foam at 1,000 psi and 90°C led to a substantial increase in viscosity, with PAC showing the most significant enhancement: 33.28 cp at low shear rates and 18.15 cp at high shear rates. Conversely, the viscosity of both base AAES foam and additive-enhanced foams decreased with rising temperatures, although PAC exhibited the greatest resistance to viscosity variations due to temperature changes. The addition of PAC also resulted in a notable increase in foam yield stress, potentially leading to more efficient cuttings transport and hole cleaning. Furthermore, foam stability was significantly improved by the additives, with XG and CMC doubling stability to 48 minutes, and PAC resulting in a threefold increase in half-life to 65 minutes. This study presents AAES and the tested additives as viable components for eco-friendly foam formulations, promoting enhanced properties suitable for UBD applications.

A Machine Learning Approach to Classifying EEG Data Collected with or without Haptic Feedback during a Simulated Drilling Task.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), computer simulations, and virtual reality (VR) are increasingly becoming accessible tools that can be leveraged to implement training protocols and educational resources. Typical assessment tools related to sensory and neural processing associated with task performance in virtual environments often rely on self-reported surveys, unlike electroencephalography (EEG), which is often used to compare the effects of different types of sensory feedback (e.g., auditory, visual, and haptic) in simulation environments in an objective manner. However, it can be challenging to know which aspects of the EEG signal represent the impact of different types of sensory feedback on neural processing. Machine learning approaches offer a promising direction for identifying EEG signal features that differentiate the impact of different types of sensory feedback during simulation training. For the current study, machine learning techniques were applied to differentiate neural circuitry associated with haptic and non-haptic feedback in a simulated drilling task. Nine EEG channels were selected and analyzed, extracting different time-domain, frequency-domain, and nonlinear features, where 360 features were tested (40 features per channel). A feature selection stage identified the most relevant features, including the Hurst exponent of 13-21 Hz, kurtosis of 21-30 Hz, power spectral density of 21-30 Hz, variance of 21-30 Hz, and spectral entropy of 13-21 Hz. Using those five features, trials with haptic feedback were correctly identified from those without haptic feedback with an accuracy exceeding 90%, increasing to 99% when using 10 features. These results show promise for the future application of machine learning approaches to predict the impact of haptic feedback on neural processing during VR protocols involving drilling tasks, which can inform future applications of VR and simulation for occupational skill acquisition.

Parameter optimization based on deepwater drilling system simulation: A pre-salt exploration well in Brazil

The vibration of downhole drilling tools is the primary factor that limits the ROP of deep-water salt drilling. Pre-drilling modeling is an essential method for analyzing the dynamic characteristics of the drilling system. Currently, there is limited research on coupling models between the single riser model and drill string model in deepwater drilling dynamics, which hampers offshore drilling dynamics development. In this study, we integrated the dynamic riser model with the flexible drillstring dynamic model, optimized the system's boundary conditions through experiments, and established an advanced full-scale deepwater drilling system. Through virtual drilling simulation analysis and energy flow calculations of the drilling process, we investigated the movement trajectory of the drillstring system at different positions and its correlation with downhole vibration in deepwater drilling. Finally, we performed parameter optimization on Brazil exploration well salt formation. The results indicate that the rotational speed significantly influences the vibration intensity and motion state of both the drill string and downhole drilling tool. Moreover, the kinetic energy and strain energy of BHA effectively reflect the motion state of the downhole drilling tool. When drilling salt and salt intercalation in the Brazil exploration well, the WOB was controlled within 200 kN and 180 kN, and the rotational speed was controlled within 180 rpm and 140 rpm, respectively. This ensured optimal stability and minimized vibrations within the drill string system. The virtual simulation work based on deepwater drilling systems can provide guidance for designing and planning actual drilling operations, as well as proposing reasonable drilling parameters to enhance stability and ROP in the drilling process.

Development and Validation of a Low-Cost Drilling Model.

Background: Simulation models enable learners to have repeated practise at their own time, to master the psycho-motor and sensory acuity aspects of surgery and build their confidence in the procedure. The study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a low-cost drilling model to train surgeons in the drilling task. The model targets three aspects of drilling - (1) Reduce plunge depth, (2) Ability to differentiate between bone and medullary canal and (3) Increase accuracy drilling in various angles. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted after obtaining ethics approval. We invited Consultants in the field of Orthopaedic or Hand Surgery to form the 'expert' group, and the 'novice' group consisted of participants who had no prior experience in bone drilling. We developed a drilling simulator model made from a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe filled with liquid silicone. This model cost less than US$5. An electric Bosch drill (model GBM 10 RE) with a 1.4 mm K-wire 10cm in length (6.5 cm outside the drill) was used for drilling. The main outcomes of the study were time taken for drilling, plunge depth, ability to penetrate the far cortex and accuracy. Results: Thirty-one participants were recruited into the study, of which 15 were experts and 16 were novices. The experts performed significantly better for plunge depth (t=-3.65, p=0.0003) and accuracy (t=-2.07, p=0.04). The experts required 20% less time to complete the drilling tasks, but it was not statistically significant (t=-0.79, p=0.43). Conclusions: The low-cost drilling model could be useful in training Residents in the drilling task. It will allow Residents to practise independently at their own time and assess their own performance.

Effect of Impact Force on the Impact-Sliding Wear of Titanium Alloy Drill Pipes against Steel Casings

Titanium alloys have been widely used for drill pipes in complex structural wells and ultra-deep wells because they can provide great benefits in cost and operation in drilling systems due to their excellent properties such as high strength, low density, exceptional corrosion resistance and inherent flexibility. However, their wear behaviors during drilling have not been well understood by the communities. In this work, the effect of the impact force on the wear performance of titanium alloy drill pipes against steel casings was investigated through using a modified wet impact-sliding pin-on-disk test system, in which ZSA-3 titanium alloy was used for the pins and J55 steel was for the disks. The tests were conducted under simulated drilling mud conditions. As the impact force increases, the coefficient of friction tends to become stable and fluctuates slightly, and thus the wear rate of the tribo-pairs decreases gradually. The wear mechanism of J55 steel disks presents a transition from plastic deformation to plastic deformation accompanied by adhesive wear, while that of the titanium alloy pins changes from the plowing effect with adhesive wear to plastic deformation and adhesive wear. In addition, complex oxides will be formed on the surfaces of the tribo-pairs due to the oxidation of Ti and Fe during the wear process. The present results could provide as a fundamental guide for the drilling engineers in related industries for reducing casing wear in the drilling environment.

Metabolic demands of a simulated smoke-diving drill

The main goal of this study was to update the Finnish smoke-diving drill (FSDD) and to measure the physical strain of and recovery from the drill. Furthermore, the aim was to compare the physical strain of contract and professional firefighters and effect of floor materials. The associations between aerobic capacity and physical strain were also studied. The updates made included an added hose pull task and updating the equipment used. Heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (V̇O2), and blood lactate concentration ([La-]) of 32 professional and 5 contract firefighters were measured before, during, and 10 and 30 min after the updated drill. The mean HR during the drill was 78% and V̇O2 59% of maximum. HR and [La-] had not recovered to baseline levels after 30-minute recovery period. Physical strain was higher among contract firefighters and [La-] accumulation on rough floor surfaces. Better aerobic capacity was associated with reduced physical strain.

A model-free toolface control strategy for cross-well intelligent directional drilling

Toolface adjustment methods for directional drilling in oil and gas drilling currently rely heavily on manual real-time interventions for continuous adjustment. However, due to the influence of manual experience, these existing methods suffer from unstable effects and high labor costs. As energy consumption continues to rise, the demand for intelligent directional drilling is becoming increasingly pressing. To address the challenges posed by automatic adjustment issues encountered in actual drilling operations under various complex downhole environments, this study presents a model-free online learning adaptive decision strategy for cross-well intelligent adjustment and toolface stabilization, which is applicable for both slide and rotatory steerable systems. A reward function embedded with expert operating experience is developed to learn the orientation strategy from the driller's corrective actions. Additionally, a priority-based experience replay mechanism is introduced to enhance online learning efficiency. To accurately simulate the directional drilling process and pre-train the orientation strategy, a data-driven directional drilling simulation environment is proposed. With the aim of facilitating implementation and widespread adoption in practical engineering, this study also involves the migration of a strategic model, integration of a real-time interaction module, and encapsulation of algorithms for field applications. Simulations and field experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. The experimental results demonstrate that the strategy can achieve decision-making goals in a short period of time.

Enhancing Disaster Management Preparedness Through Simulation.

Disaster management can be difficult to teach in the classroom, yet nurses must be prepared to respond to emergency situations and feel confident doing so. Educators developed a simulated learning activity-a mock disaster drill using live volunteers as patients and emergency medical technicians-to improve disaster management preparedness, confidence, and interdisciplinary teamwork among nursing students. This article details their strategy and experience with this project.

Cochlear implant positioning: development and validation of an automatic method using computed tomography image analysis.

An in-house designed semi-automatic algorithm was developed to analyse a 3D model of the skull. The feasibility of drilling the recess was determined by a gradient descent method to search for the thickest part of the temporal bone. Feasibility was determined by the residual bone thickness which was calculated after a simulated drilling of the recess at the thickest position. An initial validation of the algorithm was performed by measuring the accuracy of the algorithm on five 3D models with known thickest locations for the recess. The accuracy was determined by a part comparison between the known position and algorithm provided position. In four of the five validation models a standard deviation for accuracy below the predetermined cut-off value of 4.2 mm was achieved between the actual thickest position and the position determined by the algorithm. Furthermore, the residual thickness calculated by the algorithm showed a high agreement (max. 0.02 mm difference) with the actual thickness. With the developed algorithm, a semi-automatic method was created to analyse the temporal bone thickness within a specified region of interest on the skull. Thereby, providing indications for surgical feasibility, potential risks for anatomical structures and impact on procedure time of cochlear implantation. This method could be a valuable research tool to objectively assess feasibility of drilling a recess in patients with thin temporal bones preoperatively.

Laboratory simulation of natural gas hydrate formation and low disturbance drilling

Obtaining real natural gas hydrate pressure-retaining samples is challenging, necessitating the study of in-situ condition preserved coring (ICP-Coring) technology. In this paper, we simulated the in-situ formation of natural gas hydrate using a high pressure cooling method within a self-developed formation environment simulation chamber. Drilling experiments were conducted to examine the influence of drilling parameters on low disturbance drilling processes. Our findings indicate that the feed rate of the drill pipe primarily affects the force magnitude on the drill pipe, while the rotational speed of the drill pipe significantly impacts the stability of this force, with slightly higher rotational speeds resulting in less disturbance.

Study of a high-precision complex 3D geological modelling method based on a fine KNN and kriging coupling algorithm: a case study for Jiangsu, China

A high-precision, complex, three-dimensional (3D) geological model can directly express the attributes of stratum thickness, geological structure, lithology and spatial form, which can provide a reliable basis for the development and utilization of underground space and planning decisions. However, it is difficult to perform accurate modelling due to the lack of basic data. As such, this paper proposes coupling a machine learning algorithm (K-nearest neighbour (KNN)) with the kriging algorithm to construct the topological relationship between the Delaunay triangle and the Thiessen polygon in order to perform the simulation and prediction of virtual drilling. Based on KNN, support vector machine (SVM) and neural network algorithms as well as the virtual borehole encryption data, data standardization processing and analysis are carried out. Through model verification, algorithm optimization is realized, and the optimal modelling method is explored. The results show that the fine KNN algorithm improved by Bayesian optimization can effectively improve the modelling accuracy through 0.1-m encryption, standardization processing and 5-fold cross-validation. Stratum modelling combined with the fine KNN and kriging algorithms can obtain a more accurate modelling without adding virtual boreholes. The improved levels of upper and lower hybrid modelling with an appropriate number of profile boreholes can also effectively optimize model accuracy. Both modelling accuracy and efficiency can be significantly improved by using Delaunay triangles and Thiessen polygons with virtual boreholes. Stratum modelling can effectively express the geological pinch-out in areas with adequate degrees of stratification, and hybrid modelling performs well in irregular geological bodies such as karsts and lenses.

Numerical simulation of nanosecond laser drilling of 316L stainless steel: addition of laser focus and analysis of manufacturing process

A two-dimensional model of nanosecond laser drilling 316L stainless steel was established with the consideration of laser focus, which was indeed different from the original two-phase flow model without laser focus, especially in the temperature field, velocity field, surface morphology and hole depth. Simulation and experiment of drilling holes with different laser repetition frequencies (100 kHz, 50 kHz and 20 kHz) were carried out. The results show that manufacturing process could divide into three stages: high-efficiency phase, stabilization stage and low-efficiency phase. Meanwhile, the limited number of pulses at 100 kHz, 50 kHz and 20 kHz were obtained, and the values were approximately 289, 367 and 492, respectively. More, the values at 10 kHz and 200 kHz obtained by modeling were very close to those calculated by the fitted equation. All the research provides theoretical, simulation and experimental basis for designing and optimizing parameters on laser surface manufacturing.

Life Detection and Microbial Biomarker Profiling with Signs of Life Detector-Life Detector Chip During a Mars Drilling Simulation Campaign in the Hyperarid Core of the Atacama Desert.

The low organic matter content in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, together with abrupt temperature shifts and high ultraviolet radiation at its surface, makes this region one of the best terrestrial analogs of Mars and one of the best scenarios for testing instrumentation devoted to in situ planetary exploration. We have operated remotely and autonomously the SOLID-LDChip (Signs of Life Detector-Life Detector Chip), an antibody microarray-based sensor instrument, as part of a rover payload during the 2019 NASA Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS) Mars drilling simulation campaign. A robotic arm collected drilled cuttings down to 80 cm depth and loaded SOLID to process and assay them with LDChip for searching for molecular biomarkers. A remote science team received and analyzed telemetry data and LDChip results. The data revealed the presence of microbial markers from Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Cyanobacteria to be relatively more abundant in the middle layer (40-50 cm). In addition, the detection of several proteins from nitrogen metabolism indicates a pivotal role in the system. These findings were corroborated and complemented on "returned samples" to the lab by a comprehensive analysis that included DNA sequencing, metaproteomics, and a metabolic reconstruction of the sampled area. Altogether, the results describe a relatively complex microbial community with members capable of nitrogen fixation and denitrification, sulfur oxidation and reduction, or triggering oxidative stress responses, among other traits. This remote operation demonstrated the high maturity of SOLID-LDChip as a powerful tool for remote in situ life detection for future missions in the Solar System.

Fire Drill Simulation Game for Primary School Students

Fire Drill Simulation Game for Primary School Students

Influence of drilling parameters on bone drilling force and temperature by FE simulation and parameters optimization based Taguchi method

During bone drilling surgery, the bone drill can generate drilling force and frictional heat, which may lead to mechanical and thermal damage to the bone tissue. This paper presents a finite element (FE) simulation of bone drilling for cortical and cancellous bone, analyzing the influence of drilling parameters on bone drilling force and temperature. The simulation results reveal the change laws of axial force and temperature during different density bone drilling for various parameters. To optimize the bone drilling parameters, the Taguchi method is applied to conduct bone drilling simulation experiments based on the FE simulation model. The optimal values of axial force and temperature are predicted and calculated under the condition of optimal drilling parameters. Furthermore, a robot bone drilling experiment platform is used to verify the bone drilling FE simulation model and the optimal parameters. The research demonstrates that the FE simulation model effectively explores the influence of drilling parameters on bone drilling force and temperature, while the Taguchi method optimizes the drill parameters to minimize the mechanical and thermal damage to the bone tissue.

Optimization of DEFORM-3D simulated drilling of UNSS31603-steel by integrated MOORA coupled PCA technique

Due to its creep and stress-rapture strengths, superior formability, and high temperature tensile, UNS S31603 alloys are regarded as a good machinability material. As a result of the increased heat and thrust force generated by the cutting process, increased tool wear and damage are an inevitable byproduct of increased cutting speed and feed rate at the cutting edge. Drilling parameters are the only variable that can be changed to affect the temperature, and hence the wear and tear on the drill bit. In this inquiry, a 3D FEM has been proposed to study the drilling process simulation of UNS S31603 to reduce the drilling temperature, thrust force and drilling time. With DEFORM, a computer simulation model has been run to examine temperature changes as a function of cutting speed and feed rate. This study found that raising either the feed rate or the cutting speed resulted in a corresponding rise in temperature. With the aid of the unique optimization approach, integrated MOORA coupled PCA, the input process variables have been optimized. From the optimization, the optimized input parameters were identified as 260 rpm speed, 1.2 mm/min feed rate and the drill point angle of 90 degrees in order to achieve the minimum cutting force of 312 N and minimum temperature of 540 °C. At long last, optimal findings have been obtained that can assist cut down on the excessive development of heat, thrust force, and drilling time.