Controlling an output of a mining system

1. A computer implemented method for controlling operation of a mining system, the mining system including a shearer and a conveyor, the method comprising:

determining, using a processor, a position of the shearer based on a first signal from a first sensor, the first signal associated with the position of the shearer;

determining, using the processor, a load of the conveyor based on a second signal from a second sensor, the second signal associated with the load of the conveyor;

determining, using the processor, an output of the mining system based on the determined position of the shearer and the determined load of the conveyor;

generating, using the processor, a first control signal for a first drive mechanism to control a speed of the shearer based on the determined output of the mining system; and

generating, using the processor, a second control signal for a second drive mechanism to control a speed of the conveyor based on the determined output of the mining system.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing, using the processor, the output of the mining system to a predetermined threshold, and controlling the speed of the shearer based on the comparison of the output to the predetermined threshold.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a maximum output of the mining system.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a position sensor.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is a load sensor.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the load sensor is a tension sensor.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first drive mechanism includes a first variable speed motor, and the second drive mechanism includes a second variable speed motor.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the speed of the conveyor is a speed of conveyor advance toward a mining face.

9. A controller for a mining system that includes a shearer and a conveyor, the controller including a non-transitory computer readable medium and a processor, the controller comprising computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium for controlling operation of the mining system to:

determine a position of the shearer based on a first signal received from a first sensor, the first signal associated with the position of the shearer;

determine a load of the conveyor based on a second signal received from a second sensor, the second signal associated with the load of the conveyor;

determine an output of the mining system based on the determined position of the shearer and the determined load of the conveyor;

generate a first control signal for a first drive mechanism to control a speed of the shearer based on the determined output of the mining system; and

generate a second control signal for a second drive mechanism to control a speed of the conveyor based on the determined output of the mining system.

10. The controller of claim 9 , further comprising computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium to:

compare the output of the mining system to a predetermined threshold; and

control the speed of the shearer based on the comparison of the output to the predetermined threshold.

11. The controller of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a maximum output of the mining system.

12. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the first sensor is a position sensor.

13. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the second sensor is a load sensor.

14. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the first drive mechanism includes a first variable speed motor, and the second drive mechanism includes a second variable speed motor.

15. The controller of claim 14 , wherein the speed of the shearer is controlled by controlling a speed of the first variable speed motor, and the speed of the conveyor is controlled by controlling a speed of the second variable speed motor.

16. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the speed of the conveyor is a speed of conveyor advance toward a mining face.

17. A controller for a mining system that includes a shearer and a conveyor, the controller including a non-transitory computer readable medium and a processor, the controller comprising computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium for controlling operation of the mining system to:

determine a position of the shearer based on a first signal from a first sensor, the first signal associated with the position of the shearer;

determine a load of the conveyor based on a second signal from a second sensor, the second signal associated with the load of the conveyor;

determine an output of the mining system based on the determined position of the shearer and the determined load of the conveyor; and

generate a first control signal for a first drive mechanism to control a speed of the shearer based on the determined output of the mining system.

18. The controller of claim 17 , further comprising computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium to:

compare the output of the mining system to a predetermined threshold; and

control the speed of the shearer based on the comparison of the output to the predetermined threshold.

19. The controller of claim 18 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a maximum output of the mining system.

20. A controller for a mining system that includes a shearer and a conveyor, the controller including a non-transitory computer readable medium and a processor, the controller comprising computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium for controlling operation of the mining system to:

determine a position of the shearer based on a first signal from a first sensor, the first signal associated with the position of the shearer;

determine a load of the conveyor based on a second signal from a second sensor, the second signal associated with the load of the conveyor;

determine an output of the mining system based on the determined position of the shearer and the determined load of the conveyor; and

generate a first control signal for a first drive mechanism to control a speed of the conveyor based on the determined output of the mining system.

21. The controller of claim 20 , further comprising computer executable instructions stored in the computer readable medium to:

compare the output of the mining system to a predetermined threshold; and

control the speed of the conveyor based on the comparison of the output to the predetermined threshold.

22. The controller of claim 21 , wherein the predetermined threshold is a maximum output of the mining system.