Current status and key technology prospects of shearer intelligent development

This paper introduces the current situation of intelligent development of shearer at home and abroad. The shearer is currently developing towards intelligent robotics and is in the primary stage of intelligence. This paper elaborates on the development process and trends of intelligent shearer. There are six scientific research projects that have played important roles in the intelligent development of shearer, including the UK remotely operated longwall face (ROLF) program, mine operating system (MINOS), NASA long wall automation cooperation project, Australian Australian coal industry’s research program (ACARP), Australian commonwealth scientific and industrial research organization (CSIRO) project, and EU new mechanisation and automation of longwall and drivage equipment (NEMAEQ). The development trend of shearer is to use continuously developing monitoring, sensing, and remote control technologies to replace manual intervention and operation, continuously improve the production efficiency and reliability of working face equipment, and develop towards informationization, integration, unmanned, and intelligent direction. This paper introduces the key technologies of intelligent perception, intelligent control, and intelligent communication of shearer. It points out that intelligent cutting technology based on coal rock recognition, intelligent drum speed regulation technology, precise positioning technology of shearer, and planning and mining technology based on three-dimensional geological models are key technologies that urgently need to be broken through. The human-machine relationship that cannot be ignored in the intelligent development process of shearer is discussed from two aspects: dust reduction and noise reduction.