Kozma Dmitrievich Frolov is undoubtedly one of the outstanding Russian engineers-inventors of the 18th century. He was born on July 29, 1726, in Polevskoy. His father, who worked as a craftsman, managed to provide his son with an education in arithmetic and mining schools.

After completing his studies, Frolov began his career at the Berezovsky plant. He started as an apprentice, participating in ore extraction and the construction of horse-drawn pumps used to drain water from mines.

Frolov quickly established himself as a versatile specialist in gold mining, and in 1757 he was sent to the Olonets region to organize the operation of the mines. After successfully completing his tasks, he returned to the Berezovsky plant and became the manager. The experience gained in Karelia, combined with his engineering skills, allowed him to streamline the gold extraction process.

In 1760, under his leadership, a washing machine was created that required two-thirds fewer workers and saved up to 3,400 rubles a year. The machine quickly gained attention in the capital, and Frolov was appointed as the master responsible for all gold mining operations in Yekaterinburg. In the Urals, he successfully implemented a new method for processing gold-bearing ores and discovering new deposits.

In 1764, he was transferred to the Kolyvansko-Voskresensky plants. At the Zmeinogorsk mine, he immediately began to implement his ideas, creating installations for washing ores and tailings. Frolov developed a complete system for automatic gold extraction, where movement was carried out using carts powered by a water wheel or flowing water. At that time, such production methods did not exist anywhere in the world.

In Altai, Frolov implemented the largest and most efficient hydraulic power installation for pumping water and supplying rock. Some hydraulic structures designed by him are still in use today.