China has built its first exoskeleton robot system designed for complex mine environments. The robot, developed by CHN Energy and the China Coal Research Institute, helps rescue workers carry heavy loads and reduces their energy use by 20 percent. The system is now undergoing testing with a national mine rescue team.
CHN Energy and Shendong Coal Group launched the project in July 2025 in partnership with the China Coal Research Institute. The robot has completed three rounds of practical training with a national mine rescue team, showing strong performance underground.
Mine disaster response faces serious challenges, including limited equipment intelligence and limited individual rescue capabilities. Rescuers often carry heavy gear through difficult underground conditions where every bit of energy matters.
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The exoskeleton features a “rigid-flexible coupling” structural design. It combines upper and lower limb power-assist modules with an embedded multi-sensor system and AI controller. This setup enables smooth human-machine collaboration during rescue operations.
Key technical specifications include over six hours of continuous operation and movement recognition accuracy above 95 percent. The system can carry or drag up to 80 kilograms while reducing human metabolic energy consumption by approximately 20 percent. This significantly extends how long rescue personnel can work.
Beyond emergency rescues, the exoskeleton shows promise for high-intensity mining tasks like underground material handling and equipment installation. This gives it practical value even when no disasters occur.
The system is still in industrial testing and has not yet been deployed in real rescue operations. CHN Energy noted that it continues to validate the robot’s adaptability and stability in underground conditions.
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CHN Energy said this achievement contributes to China’s energy industry safety technology system and strengthens the modernization of its mine emergency rescue capabilities. The robot represents a new step toward human-machine collaborative rescue operations.
