The paper describes the development of a new autonomous bolting and coal conveying machine designed to facilitate the rapid advancement of roadways in underground coal mines. The machine integrates a range of sensing, guidance, and automation technologies, all of which are novel in the underground mining context. The paper discusses the key elements of the system and indicates how these technologies are managed to realise the desired system behaviour. Important practical issues associated with implementing systems in the harsh underground mining environment are also discussed.
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