This article introduces the functional diagram and calculation methodology of the automated control system the flotation of copper-nickel ores, based on the optimization of reagent conditions and parameters of froth. Their use in the design  stage  control system  guarantees the efficiency of flotation process and increase quality rate of enrichment.

The state of mine electric locomotive transport and the main directions of mine electric locomotive drive improvement are shown. The expediency of introducing a new train weight limitation into the traction calculation methodology under the condition of electric locomotive drive acceleration is indicated. The criterion for electric locomotive drive control when moving the assembled train from the place is given, the implementation of which allows to increase the service life of trolleys coupling devices. The possibility of increasing traction properties of mine electric locomotives by means of combined drive is considered. The efficiency of using of traction motors with mixed excitation on mine electric locomotives is shown.

Three directions of automation of mine electric locomotive transportation are considered: automation of starting and braking modes, automatic system of train collision avoidance and dispatch control system. The scheme of calculation of parameters of the automation system of mine electric locomotive transportation is given. It is shown that during the calculation it is necessary to take into account the limitations imposed by the peculiarities of the transportation network, parameters of mining sites, ore preparation devices.

Improvement of mine electric locomotive drive aimed at creation and implementation of automatic starting systems determines the definition of adjustable drive parameters at the design stage. At given parameters of the automated drive, carriages, grip coefficient of electric locomotive wheels with rails, it is reasonable to calculate the train mass under the condition of its acceleration. The mass can be limiting in comparison with the mass determined by other known conditions of traction calculation.

To ensure the safety of train traffic, signaling systems based on the use of traffic light signaling are now widely used. At occurrence of emergency situations the train on signals of a traffic light is stopped by the driver.

One of the ways to improve mine electric locomotive transport is its automation. The effectiveness of automation is determined by increasing the reliability of electromechanical equipment, creating the conditions of accident-free, non-stop movement of trains and transport operation in the mode of averaging quality indicators of rock mass.

One of the stages of train starting is its moving from the place, defined from the moment of the electric locomotive starting to the moment of the last carriage starting to move. This stage is characterized by insignificant transient time (1-5 s) and large dynamic loads arising in the coupling devices of the cars. These loads are 3-10 or more times higher than the hourly value of the electric locomotive tractive force ...

When compound traction motors are used on mine electric locomotive transportation, one of the essential issues is the choice of compounding system. This issue is especially acute when modernizing existing traction motors designed for automated electric locomotive rolling, when there is a need to automate the starting modes of the electric locomotive ...

One of the directions of improvement of mine electric locomotive rolling is its automation, which provides rhythmicity of trains movement, increase of operation safety and productivity of transport ...

When an electric locomotive moves along a rectilinear section of track, the resistance to motion is continuously changing due to changes in the nucleon path profile. In the work of A. A. Rengevich it is pointed out that it is very important to take into account correctly the track gradient, because in mine conditions constant gradients are rare. Moreover, when a train is moving in one direction, there are gradients that vary not only in magnitude, but also in sign. Electric locomotive traction motors have a soft mechanical characteristic, so at low loads the speed of the electric locomotive varies within significant limits. To maintain the set speed of an electric locomotive when traveling along a straight section of track, the driver must continuously manipulate the controller knob. The researches made by V.P. Gudalov in the mines of Donbass showed that on the average for one hour of operation of traction engines of electric locomotive there are more than 700 switching positions of the controller, which unfavorably affects the mode of operation of engines. Creation of an electric locomotive with automatic maintenance of the set speed will considerably facilitate the driver's labor, as well as reduce the conditions of possible wheel slipping during acceleration and movement of the electric locomotive along a straight section of the track at a changing moment of resistance on the engine shaft.