Roof bolting is the most popular type of support for underground mines’ workings. However, in Polish coal mines it is used only as a supplementary support. To raise the effectiveness and economic score of horizontal development works, JSW (Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa) started a project to introduce the independent rock bolting support in its mines. The key element of the project is the monitoring of mine workings supported with roof bolting, as appropriate control allows one to ensure a proper level of safety. The following work presents a monitoring system for mine working supported with roof bolting applied in the project, as well as results of the measurements obtained using this system. The aim of the monitoring was to prove that independent roof bolting provides a proper level of safety and thus is applicable in conditions of Polish underground coal mines, particularly Budryk mine. It was to be proved by the evaluation of data obtained from instrumented bolts, extensometers of different type and convergence measurements. These results allowed us to verify the validity and reliability of the roof bolting in geological and mining conditions of Silesian Coal Basin.

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The article presents conceptual assumptions and achieved functional-utility effects concerning the implementation of control and visualization system of operation of pulsating jigs in the Coal Mechanical Processing Plant of BUDRYK Coal Mine. The system includes six OSM medium-grain and two OM fine jigs. The communication structure of the control system, including the connection with the master controller, is presented. The process of selecting the controller settings, to stabilize the quality parameters of the coal beneficiation, is discussed.

Projects as regards state-of-the-art mechatronic systems aiming at increase of safety in the mining industry and at improvement of coal production technologies, which have been completed at the KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, are presented. These projects cover automation, monitoring and visualization systems, systems for implementation of artificial intelligence techniques, and database recording systems.iRIS system for electronic marking, identification, and recording of components of powered roof supports, which was implemented in 31 Polish mining enterprises, is presented as an example of the work directly associated with an increase of operational safety. Specialists from KOMAG, ELSTA, Ltd., and Silesian University of Technology in Poland, have developed flexible, configurable, and scalable system for data management, which refers to all fixed assets of mining enterprises, meeting the requirements of users as regards marking and identification of fixed assets.The system for control of roadheaders using intelligent algorithms, based on artificial intelligence techniques is also the example of innovative actions. This system aims at increasing the safety and effectiveness of teamwork due to a possibility of remote, semiautonomous operation. Introduction of artificial intelligence technology enables adaptation of roadheader mining system to the present mining-and-geological conditions. Moreover, work aiming at implementation of state-of-the-art system for control of mine jig's beneficiation node, integrating machines and equipment in one system, is carried out as regards automation, information integration, and visualization in coal beneficiation process.Work on recovery and conversion of thermal energy, which is a by-product during operation of machines and equipment, especially mine diesel drives, is presented. Systems for energy recuperation are more and more important due to the necessity of continuous increase of power production efficiency.

Perspectives of development of control system dedicated for areas threatened by methane and/or coal dust explosion hazard are presented. Development of self-powered sensors, dedicated for operation in wireless network is one of the development directions. Such a solution will complement typical control systems and it can be used in the places, where there is no possibility of using the typical sensors, in close vicinity to the machine -due to lack of wired connection. General concept of the self-powered sensors with use of two methods of power supply -piezoelectric energy harvester and thermoelectric generator, is given. Perspective of using the methods of artificial intelligence in automatic configuration of sensors network is suggested.