Key to the work, which is being carried out by the CSIRO, is the development of a 3D model that allows equipment positioning requirements be systematically identified and assessed.
The framework will provide a means to systematically review current longwall equipment positioning requirements.
It will also provide a model framework that will allow an objective assessment to be made with regards to current achievable positioning performance.
This effort will yield new insights as to the efficacy of current sensing capability and serve to guide the development of any subsequent measurement instrumentation.
Work in the project thus far has included a focused literature review of relevant material in order to understand the current state of the art. Functional requirements have been sought from industry regarding specific longwall operational configurations as well as specific details on required equipment positioning performance.
Access to longwall data sources has also been sought from two underground longwall operations which are important for characterising current sensor performance and validating the model. Initial design of equipment positioning model has also commenced, which will build upon previous Longwall Automation Steering Committee (LASC) based cut models, but will include any additional available data sources such as support inclinometers.
