A sleek, white robot has been operating steadily at a workface in Dongtan Coal Mine, operated by Shandong Energy Group Co., Ltd. Developed independently by the CCTEG SHANGHAI CO.,LTD. under China Coal Technology Engineering Group (CCTEG), this innovative creation stands as China’s first intelligent cantilever-type drilling and bolting robot.
A view of the intelligent cantilever-type drilling and bolting robot [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
After a successful six-month industrial trial, the robot has now officially entered regular operation.
The intelligent cantilever robot integrates multiple core functions — including cutting, loading, walking, drilling, bolting, and support — into a single unit. It tackles major industry challenges such as low excavation efficiency, safety hazards, and high labor intensity. With an automatic cutting and loading cycle that takes just six minutes for a 24-square-meter tunnel section, it sets a new benchmark in unmanned and intelligent tunneling. The monthly advance rate has increased by over 20 percent compared with traditional methods.
The robot introduces several industry-first innovations, including a mid-line positioning system for automatic cutting with synchronized loading. It also employs a dual-mode “laser + inertial navigation” positioning system, achieving a positioning accuracy of no more than 5 centimeters and a control accuracy of no more than 10 cm. Operated entirely via remote intelligent control, the robot improves tunnel wall flatness by 25 percent over manual methods and enables fully unmanned intelligent cutting at the tunnel face.
As this intelligent machine carves forward with technological precision, it not only enhances the efficiency of coal excavation but also accelerates the transformation of traditional mines into “smart green valleys.”
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
