Russia Unveils AI-Powered Safety System for Coal Mines

A new smart calibration device designed in Russia helps prevent explosions in underground mines by ensuring accurate gas monitoring and transmitting safety data in real time.

Russian engineers have developed a digital safety system for high-risk environments such as coal mines, where explosion hazards are a constant threat. The system, created by research and production firm Granch, includes an AI-enabled calibration chamber for gas analyzers—an industry first in Russia. The device uses wireless communication to send sensor data directly to enterprise registries.

The system comes in several configurations. One version, called Granch MIS, combines gas monitoring, communications, data transmission, and equipment control into a single integrated platform. It can automate every stage of the mining process. Another component, the Granch SBTC3-RV/RO, is an upgraded controller for industrial sensors, refined after deployment at facilities operated by the Raspadskaya Coal Company.

Granch’s digital platform is expected to be in demand not only in Russia but also in friendly markets abroad. India, for example, is launching a national initiative to expand its coal mining sector and digitize enrichment plants—making it a promising destination for the technology.