US Patent 10054917 Drilling direct control user interface

Disclosed are control apparatus and methods for direct control in automated drilling. The control apparatus can include a display, a control unit, and an input device for receiving a plurality of measurements comprising one or more of present depth, present bit position, inclination, azimuth, top drive position, magnetic toolface, gravity toolface, a target control parameter. The control apparatus is configured to generate a drill string position indicator relating to a present depth and a present bit position. The control unit is configured to generate a vertical bar graph inclination indicator and a horizontal bar graph display azimuth indicator. The control unit is configured to generate a top drive position index. The control unit is configured to generate a toolface rosebud and a control parameter display. The control unit is configured to iteratively update the display in substantially real time.