From our correspondent — Recently, the National Energy Administration (NEA) officially unveiled the “Top 10 Scientific and Technological Innovation Achievements of the Energy Industry for 2025”. The Unmanned Transportation System for Super-large Open-pit Coal Mines, jointly developed by the Intelligent Mine Team (School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology- Beijing) under the leadership of Academician Ge Shirong, is among the honourees on this authoritative roster of China’s top energy technologies. The selection represents a major breakthrough in China’s smart mine sector and establishes a benchmark for digital transformation across the energy industry.

This achievement focuses on retrofitting existing haul trucks in open-pit coal mines for unmanned operation. It has developed key technologies and equipment including precise drive-by-wire control for ultra-large tonnage haul trucks, high-precision navigation over complex terrain, compatibility and coordination of multi-vendor equipment, and safety control under extreme working conditions. The work fills the technical gap in large-scale unmanned transportation using 300-ton haul trucks in super-large open-pit mines. Deployed in multiple super-large open-pit coal mines with an annual output exceeding 30 million tons, the achievement strongly supports the digital and intelligent upgrading of traditional mines and offers a replicable and scalable “Chinese solution” for global mining modernization.

As a core research contributor to the project, the University has fully leveraged its disciplinary and talent strengths and maintained close collaboration with the end-user, China Energy Investment Corporation. It has provided solid theoretical and technical support for the system spanning technology research to field implementation. Its inclusion in this national ranking marks another major recognition following its presentation at the national 14^th Five-Year Plan S&T Innovation Achievements Exhibition. It fully demonstrates the University’s research capacity and commitment to tackling challenges in key fields and serving national strategies through in-depth industry-university-research integration.

Dedicated to meeting major demands of China’s energy industry, the University has long relied on national key research projects to cultivate high-caliber talents with both a strong sense of national responsibility and innovative capacity. It achieves mutual advancement and enhancement of scientific research and talent development. Looking ahead, the University will further fulfil its mission as part of the national strategic scientific and technological force, forge ahead at the cutting edge of smart mine development, and deliver more original and pioneering achievements to contribute expertise and strength to national development and industrial progress.