Abstract: In order to achieve intelligent longwall mining, solve the remarkable problems of the current mine, such as backward technology, low resources recovery, and others, this paper analyzed its current status, and then constructed its system main model. Furthermore, its key technologies were analyzed and summarized, such as the location detection of shearer miners, automated face alignment and horizon control, automated identification of coal and rock interface, automated creep control. The solution developed that inertial navigation and thermal infrared- based seam tracking was useful respectively to realize automated face alignment and identification of coal and rock interface, and others. At last, the trends of the intelligent face mining was looked forward.