Longwall automation break through: Inertial navigation delivers major milestone

摘要

Automating the longwall mining equipment used in mechanised coal mining has been a jong-term goal of producers worldwide. Key motivators are the removal of face workers from hazardous conditions such as dust, and improving the overall efficiency and proudctivity of the longwall system. The world's most ambitious project to automate a longwall was launched in Australia in 2001 to deliver a staged approach to this complex and challenging task.