As of August 9, Shendong Coal’s first 5G-based intelligent fully-mechanized coal mining face had been running on a trial basis for a month in the Daliuta Mine. The automation rate reached over 90 percent, marking the success of the mining face.
The intelligent mechanized mining face project was implemented based on the former 302 coal mining face in the mine. The project involved laying out internet connections for the mining face and the coal cutter, and installing systems for data collection, integrated monitoring and mining face cameras. After the overhaul project, the mining face is now capable of controlling the power supply system in an integrated manner, automatically sensing and adapting the position of the coal cutter, automating coal cutting and patrolling the mine with robots. A mining model featuring automated coal cutting, monitoring, and smart decision making has been formed.
The Daliuta Mine enabled 5G internet connection for the mining face to collect data and remotely control the smart patrolling robots and coal cutter. The 5G technology has made high-definition voice call possible. Data collection is free from the interference of voice calls, and the voice call is clearer and more stable. Data can be transmitted via large bandwidth at a high speed. The peak uplink data transmission rate is 400 megabit per second, and the peak downlink rate is 1,200 megabit per second. Low-latency automated industrial control is realized, with the end-to-end time lag being 1 millisecond in an ideal scenario, and around 5 to 10 milliseconds in a typical scenario. Coordination of big data functions is realized in the working face, with 4G technology enabling voice calls and 5G technology supporting high-definition video analysis, big data transmission and wireless remote control.
With the 5G network, the mining face also has functions of basic scheduling, text messaging, wireless data interaction with the work face in the working face, alignment with the existing 4G system, and wireless communication and scheduling. Harnessing state-of-the-art technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the mine integrated its three major business segments to form an open business system and build a smart mine powered by data, computing and algorithm amid efforts to improve its core competitiveness.
