Mining robotics ontology: features and prospects of application in underground coal mining technologies

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-2-48-54

Yu.V. Malakhov^1,2, S.S. Kubrin¹
¹Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
²T.F. Gorbachev Kuzbass State Technological University, Kemerovo, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №2/ 2026 p. 48-54

Abstract: Modern mining industry is characterized with introduction of automated and robotic technological systems into the coal mining process, while the use of robotic systems in underground coal mining is not widespread despite the significant level of automation of some technological processes. It is noted that different terms are used in the mining industry to describe the same type of indicators showing introduction of the automated and autonomous control systems, as well as robotic actuators. The purpose of the article is to achieve certainty of the following concepts: “robotic”, “robotization”, and “robot” in relation to underground equipment in terms of the classification features. For this purpose, the article analyzes the concepts in the field of robotics, systematizes the classification features for robotic equipment, and examines the established classification features using the case study of mining machines and mechanisms being developed. It is shown that the application conditions of mining machines and mechanisms in underground coal mining technologies are specific, since the equipment in the production process interacts with the geological environment and is influenced by geofactors in the hazardous mine atmosphere, which requires adaptation of terminology in the field of robotics for the purposes of robotization in the mining industry. It is proposed to introduce standardized concepts of the “robotic coal face system” and the “robotic tunneling system” in the field of robotic underground coal mining.

Keywords: robotization of mining operations, technologies of underground coal mining, robotic mining technology, robotic coal face system, robotic tunneling system

For citation: Malakhov Yu.V., Kubrin S.S. Mining robotics ontology: features and prospects of application in underground coal mining technologies. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(2):48–54. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-2-48-54

Information about the article

Received: 18.12.2025

Revised: 09.02.2026

Accepted: 10.02.2026

Information about the authors

Yury V. Malakhov – Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; Associate Professor, Department of Surface Mining, T.F. Gorbachev Kuzbass State Technological University, Kemerovo, Russian Federation; Chairman of the Technical Committee for Standardization “Mining” (TC 269); https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9019-4480; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sergey S. Kubrin – Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Head of Laboratory, Chief Researcher, Institute of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0490-9065; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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