Published in September 2006 Australian Longwall Magazine

A: I would expect that Bob (and every other shearer driver I know) would say “NO” whilst the technological geniuses behind auto steering systems will say “YES”

As is often the case, the reality lies somewhere in the middle of these viewpoints, and the answer is more likely to be “Some of the time … maybe quite a lot … but not always!”

Horizon Control on a longwall face is absolutely critical. Once the horizon is cut, everything else on the longwall must follow – the AFC, the supports, and the shape of the next cut! One badly cut horizon can take eight or nine further cuts to recover.

Historically, auto-steering systems have been plagued by reliability issues, complex operating procedures, and a reluctance by operators and management to allow manufacturers to develop and trial the systems. Unfortunately, the only place to trial auto steering is on a real longwall. If the shearer stuffs up, the consequences can be very serious. A production longwall is not the best place for experimentation.

On many occasions since the first “HAL” I worked with at Cook Colliery in 1987, I have seen various types of auto steered shearers cut big holes in the floor and the roof. The immediate response is “put it back in manual and leave it there”

I have also seen “Bob” cut huge holes in the floor, and remove large chunks of roof. “Bob” can also often be heard to complain about “those bastards on the other shift” and how they don’t know how to cut a proper horizon. This is something I haven’t heard from “HAL” yet.

In the last few years, reliability issues with auto steering are fewer, and the systems have become very effective. The great strength of auto steering is consistency. It doesn’t change between shifts, and is not prone to human error (apart from the limitations of the software engineer).

However, I have yet to see “HAL” cut through a complex fault zone, or negotiate a major fall area where the supports are “double chocked”. This is purely “Bob’s” domain, where human intervention is essential.

To summarise, in reasonably good mining conditions, auto steering is awesome! “HAL” does a far better job than “Bob”.

In difficult mining conditions however, there is no substitute (yet) for the skill, dexterity and experience of “Bob”.

One final comment: Modern airliners all fly for 95% of the time on Auto Pilot (also know as GEORGE*** in years gone by).

The pilots usually only “hand fly” the aircraft during take off, landing and taxiing. GEORGE can also land the aircraft (and often does). However, you can tell the difference between the pilot’s landing and GEORGE’S landing. GEORGE’S landing is always a thump! No finesse!

*HAL – the artificial intelligence in 2001 A Space Odyssey

** BOB – the best shearer driver that ever lived

***GEORGE – RAF slang for auto pilot during WW2