A new mining method called trench-auger mining aims to make surface coal mining deeper and more cost-effective by reducing the amount of overburden removed. This method involves digging trenches to expose the coal seam, then using a machine called Thin Seam Miner to extract coal from underground. The Thin Seam Miner is a remote-controlled machine designed for continuous underground mining. The goal of the study was to develop and evaluate Thin Seam Miner/Trench Mining concepts for use in the Illinois Coal Basin.