Mining Goes Digital – Mueller et al. (Eds)
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-33604-2
686
State-of-the-art mechatronic systems for mining developed
in Poland
Dariusz Jasiulek, Małgorzata Malec, Bartosz Polnik, Krzysztof Stankiewicz &
Stanisław Trenczek
Institute of Mining Technology Komag, Gliwice, Poland
ABSTRACT: Each year intelligent control and automation systems, i.e. the systems capable for adaptation and learning, gain much wider group of users. Distributed monitoring,
control and automation systems, data transmission networks, electric energy storage and
management systems are more widely used in present industrial practice. Especially due to
the necessity of continuous improvement of work safety, as well as the need of increasing
production effectiveness and operational reliability, the scope of smart systems, which are
currently under implementation in the Polish hard coal mining industry, is also constantly
growing. KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology develops state-of-the-art, intelligent
mechatronic systems, which increase safety in the mining industry, reduce energy consumption of technological processes of coal production. Its innovative solutions, oriented onto
an improvement of mining processes, are presented in the paper. Assumptions of an IoT
(Internet of Things) and direct communication M2M (Machine to Machine) have a strong
impact on the structure and functionality of machinery control systems, shaping the ideas of
Industry 4.0. All control systems, in accordance with the IoT, use communication networks,
often with a high degree of complexity, combining various components, modules, actuators
and sensors. KOMAG researchers noticed and proposed a solution to the problem of selforganizing communication paths in a complex sensors network. In order to create and optimize the communication structure an algorithm of SA class (Swarm Algorithm) is proposed.
Another innovative solution, presented in the paper, includes Shield Support Monitoring
System (SSMS), which enables monitoring of roof condition in real time, by monitoring the
parameters of shield support (such as shield support geometry, hydraulic pressure parameters and tip to face distance). SSMS provides data to Longwall Mining Conditions Prediction
System (LMCPS) for a prediction of roof fall hazards and a generation of information about
indispensable corrective measures. The developed projects include automation, monitoring
and visualization, technologies of artificial intelligence and systems of recording, which perfectly fit the present development trends of mining mechanization systems described, among
others, in the foresight project entitled “Scenarios of technological development of the hard
coal mining industry”.
1 INTRODUCTION
At present in Poland the underground mining industry faces a big challenge resulting from
a perspective of maximal use of hard coal in the power sector, of coking coal in the metallurgical industry, copper ore for a production of copper as well as silver and gold. In each
of these cases, it is indispensable to increase efficiency of minerals’ production at keeping
occupational safety conditions of miners on a highest possible level.
1.1 Mining 4.0
The only way, enabling to reach this objective, includes an engagement of the Polish mining industry in the activities of the Industry 4.0 which becomes more and more popular in
© 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-0-367-33604-2
686
State-of-the-art mechatronic systems for mining developed
in Poland
Dariusz Jasiulek, Małgorzata Malec, Bartosz Polnik, Krzysztof Stankiewicz &
Stanisław Trenczek
Institute of Mining Technology Komag, Gliwice, Poland
ABSTRACT: Each year intelligent control and automation systems, i.e. the systems capable for adaptation and learning, gain much wider group of users. Distributed monitoring,
control and automation systems, data transmission networks, electric energy storage and
management systems are more widely used in present industrial practice. Especially due to
the necessity of continuous improvement of work safety, as well as the need of increasing
production effectiveness and operational reliability, the scope of smart systems, which are
currently under implementation in the Polish hard coal mining industry, is also constantly
growing. KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology develops state-of-the-art, intelligent
mechatronic systems, which increase safety in the mining industry, reduce energy consumption of technological processes of coal production. Its innovative solutions, oriented onto
an improvement of mining processes, are presented in the paper. Assumptions of an IoT
(Internet of Things) and direct communication M2M (Machine to Machine) have a strong
impact on the structure and functionality of machinery control systems, shaping the ideas of
Industry 4.0. All control systems, in accordance with the IoT, use communication networks,
often with a high degree of complexity, combining various components, modules, actuators
and sensors. KOMAG researchers noticed and proposed a solution to the problem of selforganizing communication paths in a complex sensors network. In order to create and optimize the communication structure an algorithm of SA class (Swarm Algorithm) is proposed.
Another innovative solution, presented in the paper, includes Shield Support Monitoring
System (SSMS), which enables monitoring of roof condition in real time, by monitoring the
parameters of shield support (such as shield support geometry, hydraulic pressure parameters and tip to face distance). SSMS provides data to Longwall Mining Conditions Prediction
System (LMCPS) for a prediction of roof fall hazards and a generation of information about
indispensable corrective measures. The developed projects include automation, monitoring
and visualization, technologies of artificial intelligence and systems of recording, which perfectly fit the present development trends of mining mechanization systems described, among
others, in the foresight project entitled “Scenarios of technological development of the hard
coal mining industry”.
1 INTRODUCTION
At present in Poland the underground mining industry faces a big challenge resulting from
a perspective of maximal use of hard coal in the power sector, of coking coal in the metallurgical industry, copper ore for a production of copper as well as silver and gold. In each
of these cases, it is indispensable to increase efficiency of minerals’ production at keeping
occupational safety conditions of miners on a highest possible level.
1.1 Mining 4.0
The only way, enabling to reach this objective, includes an engagement of the Polish mining industry in the activities of the Industry 4.0 which becomes more and more popular in