Chuangli Group Teams Up with Huawei to Advance Intelligent Transformation of Coal Mining Equipment

In recent years, with the ongoing exploration and practice of intelligent coal mine construction, major coal-producing provinces and enterprises have invested heavily in intelligent mine initiatives, achieving the initial goals of reduced manpower, improved efficiency, and enhanced safety.

Intelligent equipment serves as the cornerstone of mining intelligence. However, its advancement still faces multiple challenges:

1. Data silos: Incompatible interfaces and protocols across manufacturers hinder data integration among mining, excavation, machinery, transportation, and ventilation systems.
2. Limited capabilities: Most equipment only supports basic functions like remote start/stop, and lack active perception, adaptive adjustment, and intelligent decision-making tailored to complex underground conditions.
3. Unreliability: Harsh underground environments demand extreme durability of sensors, anti-interference algorithms, and real-time network performance. These challenges impede the shifts from available intelligence to optimal intelligence and from manpower reduction to unattended operations.

In 2024, Shanghai Chuangli Group Co., Ltd. (Chuangli Group) collaborated closely with Huawei to address these challenges. Huawei contributed advanced sensors, connectivity, cloud platforms, and AI models, while Chuangli Group brought decades of experience in integrated coal mining equipment systems. They are committed to making intelligent mines a reality, building a comprehensive cooperation system covering R&D, implementation, and ecosystem development. By the end of 2024, they jointly launched the Industry's First AI Model for Mining Equipment, creating a new generation of intelligent mining equipment powered by AI algorithms and applications.

Building an intelligent O&M system for coal mining equipment based on the AI model

During underground mining operations, harsh conditions and continuous impact loads often cause sudden failures in key components such as the shearer rocker arm transmission system. Unplanned downtime can last for hours, disrupting production and resulting in millions of RMB in losses. A highly reliable and generalized intelligent operation & maintenance (O&M) management system is essential to close the loop from production to service, and from fault identification to maintenance execution, so as to enhance efficiency and safety of underground operations.

To address this need, Chuangli Group and Huawei collaborated to build an intelligent O&M management system based on a cloud-edge collaboration architecture with centralized training and edge inference, incorporating learning mechanisms for both cold starts and hot cycles. This system effectively addresses the industry pain points of poor generalization and high customization in traditional architectures.

Equipped with Huawei's PHM Tianxuan Engine, the system integrates vibration mechanics, signal processing, and AI fault analysis, embedding generalizable domain knowledge into the parameter learning process of statistical and AI models. Through collaborative optimization of industry expertise and AI models, the system achieves over 90% fault recognition accuracy in rotating machinery scenarios, with significantly improved cross-scenario generalization.

This system has already been integrated into Chuangli Group's shearer quality inspections and underground risk detection processes, effectively improving equipment reliability and O&M response efficiency. It shifts the O&M model from reactive repair to proactive prevention, increasing equipment availability and reducing cost per ton of coal.

Intelligent equipment: paving the way for intelligent mines

Beyond the O&M management system, the joint team from Chuangli Group and Huawei also developed multiple solutions aligned with the long-term goal of building intelligent equipment with perception, cognition, decision-making, and execution capabilities.

Utilizing the MineHarmony operating system, unified communication protocols, and Thing Description (TD) model, the joint team has enabled interoperability among shearers, scraper conveyors, and hydraulic supports in fully-mechanized mining faces. By implementing sophisticated control systems, they achieve real-time coordination and intelligent scheduling among the equipment to enhance both efficiency and safety.

With the AI model for mining equipment, intelligent algorithms can be quickly developed to systematically address industry challenges in AI applications. Visual applications include collision prevention for drilling drums, straightness detection of supports, lump coal identification, and detection of unsafe worker behavior—all helping meet safety and process requirements in mining. Prediction applications, such as gas concentration forecasting and predictive maintenance of shearers, help reduce power outages and unplanned downtime.

Looking forward, as China advances its decarbonization and smart manufacturing strategies, the partnership between Chuangli Group and Huawei will extend into more scenarios. By transforming mining equipment, they aim to support the industry's transition toward greener, safer, and more efficient practices, accelerating the high-quality development of intelligent mines.