A Neural Network Keeps Russia’s Coal Mines in Check — One Alert at a Time

In Russia’s vast and rugged coal mining heartland, human dispatchers are getting a digital upgrade. Meet the AI-powered assistant that’s quietly transforming mine operations by monitoring 15 critical production parameters — and raising instant alerts when something goes wrong.

From conveyor malfunctions to camera blackouts and lost signals from mining combines, this digital dispatcher doesn’t miss a beat. The system flags issues in real time, popping notifications onto screens with zero delay. For dispatchers, it’s not just about visibility — the interface also streamlines responses, prompting operators to choose the appropriate action from a curated list of protocols.

This neural watchdog was recently rolled out across Raspadskaya Coal Company’s mines in Kuzbass under the “Dispatcher 2.0” digitalization initiative, active since 2022. Mines like Yerunakovskaya-VIII and Osinnikovskaya are already running on similar digital infrastructure.

But the tech doesn’t stop there. Raspadskaya is layering in other smart systems: AI-based tools to forecast gas and air conditions underground, digital work permit systems to verify safety gear compliance and task readiness, and intelligent surveillance that keeps a constant eye on every underground process.

In these mines, digital intuition is the new coalface