ATLAS 400 RC is an electronic remote controlled exploder, designed for firing electric detonators. It consists of one control unit and 1 to 3 receiver units.

The control unit

The control unit allows the remote control of the receiver units by the mean of a secured communication protocol.

The user can select the receiver unit he wants to control. The front panel displays the status information of the remote receiver unit : battery voltage, radio transmission status, capacitor voltage, health check, continuity of firing line…

The firing sequence consists of several steps in order ensure the user's safety. Each step is clearly indicated by a light on the front panel :

1° Safety delay : a safety delay makes sure that the receiver unit cannot carry out any action during the 2 minutes following its activation. After this delay, the receiver unit is authorized to take into account the commands of the control unit.

2° Arming : pressing the ARM button for 3 seconds allows to arm the receiver unit, which becomes operational.

3° Charging and firing : pressing on the CH button controls the charging of the receiver unit's internal capacitor. When the capacitor is fully charged, simultaneous pressing the F button controls the firing.
The receiver unit

The receiver unit includes all the circuitry for line continuity test, charging and firing. The firing line is connected to safety sockets by the mean of clip on lead safety plugs.

The front panel informs the user about the operation of the device (status, firing sequence...), it includes a TEST button for line continuity testing and a DELAY button which starts the safety delay.

The ATLAS 400 RC includes many safety levels : safety keys, secured transmission protocol between control and receiver units, safety delay, permanent shunt on the line, automatic discharge of the capacitor, monitoring of capacitor voltage, several steps for firing sequence, to fire two buttons must be pressed simultaneously, firing is allowed only if the capacitors are fully charged, monitoring of the operation by micro-controller, monitoring of the battery voltage...