About LASC Longwall Automation
History
LASC longwall automation technology is the outcome of a major “Landmark” project funding initiative of the Australian Coal Association (ACA) through the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP). This ambitious project began in July 2001 and was undertaken by CSIRO Exploration & Mining and the Cooperative Research Centre for Mining Technology and Equipment (CMTE).
CSIRO undertook a further extension of the project (beginning 2005 and concluding in Dec 2007) which progressed the earlier project successes through to commercial-ready technologies. The project was closely monitored by industry and ACARP representatives making up the Longwall Automation Steering Committee (LASC). The project has drawn on the support of the major longwall equipment manufacturers which has been critical to the success.
LASC Technology
The commercial outcomes of the Landmark longwall automation R&D project are referred to collectively as LASC Technology. The outcomes can be considered in four categories:
- Shearer Position Measurement System
- Automated Face Alignment
- Automated Creep Control
- INS-based Automated Horizon Control
Initial Project Description
The drivers and goals of the project were significant and ambitious as outlined in the following initial project description
"Sustained full-face automation in all conditions, with its health, safety and productivity benefits has been an industry goal for many years. However, this is not an easy goal to achieve. Not only does an operator currently control the longwall equipment, he also observes and deals with the aggressive, unstable and hazardous face environment. While significant progress towards longwall automation has been made, many challenges remain in the development of all the sensors and automation technologies needed to fully replace operators on the face.
With these realities in mind, the vision of the longwall automation project is to develop face equipment that will reliably carry out the routine functions of cutting and loading coal, maintaining face geometry and manipulating roof supports without human intervention. Operators, either working remote from the face, or on the face in an observation and monitoring role, will set the operating boundaries for the automated equipment and will deal with exception conditions such as equipment breakage and face guttering.
In a staged approach, the project will deliver a stream of outcomes beginning with the solution of such high-priority current industry problems as face alignment, open communications between longwall system components and longwall equipment reliability issues. In subsequent years development of sensor and monitoring technologies will steadily supplement or replace human observation leading to full longwall automation."
Achievements to date
The LASC project team is proud that the project has successfully achieved many of the essential outcomes that were central to the project's vision. These have included:
- automatic face alignment
- sensors and software for automatic horizon control
- open communication systems between longwall components
- an information system that allows on-line 3D monitoring of the entire longwall system
- several new geotechnical monitoring systems
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