Concept of Shield-Data-Based Horizon Control for Longwall Coal Mining Automation

Coal is an important fossil fuel and will also be for the next decades. Thus, there have been several approaches and researches in longwall coal mining automation which are mainly focused on the shearer as the executing machine. In addition approaches of coal interface detection have to be taken into account for horizon control to reach autonomous shearer guidance. The shield-data-based horizon control is an alternative control approach which integrates data from the roof support as input and feedback to reach an automatic cutting drum height adjustment with the aim to follow the seam trend, generate a defined face opening and keep it. This article contains the basics and difficulties of the control concept including a short introduction to the simulation model as well as the scheme and the description of the shield-data-based horizon control. Some simulation results will be shown, as well as results of the experimental tests.