Part B of the Stage Two Report: Automated Bolting and Mesh Handling on a Continuous Miner specifically focuses on the development of a strata support materials handling system.

Despite the limitations and constraints imposed by the current roadway development process, the equipment employed and the strata support practices currently adopted by part B of the project have been able to develop and demonstrate, through 3D animation, a practical strata support materials handling system that can be integrated with current generation continuous haulage systems.

The project has also been largely instrumental in recognising and highlighting the nature and extent of a number of roadway development constraints and in particular the impact that current continuous miner configurations have on the ability to apply automated strata support materials handling, storage and dispensing systems.

Also, the practical limitations of shuttle car haulage systems, the challenges posed attempting to utilise and integrate shuttle cars into a high capacity roadway development system and the resulting impact that a batch haulage system has on the effectiveness of the “continuous” miner configuration have all been identified.

The report found there was a mismatch between current generation production-oriented (less than 1200 tonnes per hour) continuous miners and continuous haulage systems with the underlying requirements of a continuously operating 10m/operating hour roadway development system (250-300tph).

There is also a need to explore alternative continuous miner configurations and continuous haulage technologies that might be able to more effectively be integrated within a fully functioning and automated roadway development system.

The report recommends that the findings be again reviewed in the context of any subsequent investigation of alternative continuous haulage technologies and/or development of fit for purpose continuous roadway development systems.

A third stage of the project was recently approved by ACARP and includes the manufacture, fitment and demonstration of the second generation enhancements to the onboard strata support system in above-ground trials by July 2013, with the subsequent handover of the developed technologies to the industry and OEMs.