NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
IBM analytics services for smarter mining
Adoption of 4G , LTE mobile data networks by mining companies at remote mining and port sites enables delivery of cloud based analytics services . IBM told IM that mining companies today are working with these Application Programming Interfaces services ( APIs ) available on the cloud on a pay per API call model .
“ Real time analytics APIs help visualise real time sensor / meter readings of connected equipment in the field . Further to GPS information from moving equipment , APIs collect and analyse driver behaviour in terms of speeding , frequent braking and more . Customers are using APIs to enable equipment monitoring through remote operations centres for improved decision making .” Predictive analytics APIs score equipment health and lifetime to maintenance repair . These APIs enable cloud delivery of predictive maintenance leveraging equipment and production and maintenance data , combined with external data sources like weather conditions ( temperature , humidity ) to provide accurate recommendations on corrective actions before failure occurs . Customers are using these APIs to reduce costly downtime on heavy equipment .
Conversation APIs and retrieve and rank APIs provide natural language conversation with field maintenance engineers and support them through the entire work order lifecycle just like talking to a expert colleague for guidance . Customers are using this to improve productivity of field engineers .
Abhishek Kaul at IBM Analytics told IM : “ This is just the beginning of a journey that mining companies are taking for digital transformation , starting with the ability to connect devices , connected platforms , leverage analytics and cognitive capabilities delivered on the cloud on a monthly consumption model . As the industry matures , we will see flattening of the hierarchical data structure from sensors , to business systems , enabling the seamless flow of data and creating new capabilities for mining companies ." our 40 years of experience across Africa and upon our trusted partner network , we provide service and support for our high-quality products to ensure customer satisfaction .”
“ Aside from offering a wide variety of products , we also keep in mind that businesses often work over different platforms ,” said Pieter Pienaar , Senior Regional Sales Manager , Motorola Solutions Africa . “ With the WAVE Work Group solution , customers are provided a unified experience across radio , mobile and WiFi that keeps teams connected no matter the network .”
Motorola Solutions ’ latest MOTOTRBO digital radios use WiFi connectivity for software updates , saving hundreds of hours of lost productivity . For a group of 350 workers , updating devices can mean 400 lost hours . “ MOTOTRBO radios update seamlessly without the need to drop off devices , and coupled with 29 hours of battery life , the new line keeps workers in the field or on the job instead of waiting for new software .”
Responding to rising demand for flexible twoway radio solutions , Motorola Solutions has introduced MOTOTRBO Capacity Max , a scalable solution with significant advantages in capacity , performance and manageability . Capacity Max can be scaled from a single-site system to projects that demand up to 3,000 users per site for voice and data-intensive deployments . It also supports the European Telecommunications Standards Institute ( ETSI ) Digital Mobile Radio ( DMR ) standard for multi-vendor interoperability , including the Tier III mode of operation .
The next-generation MOTOTRBO also includes the SLR 8000 series , a high-power repeater that amplifies a signal to help extend coverage for communication networks such as Capacity Max . The SLR 8000 is built on the same platform as the popular SLR 5000 series and allows customers to deploy systems that cover wide geographical areas . The SLR 8000 features a flexible architecture , enabling customers to easily configure the repeater to meet their system deployment needs for extreme reliability .
The WAVE Work Group Communications solution offers enhanced connectivity , interoperability and collaboration . WAVE Work Group Communications is a broadband push-totalk ( PTT ) solution that delivers real-time voice and data securely over any network , using any device . From two-way radios to smartphones , laptops to landlines , tablets to rugged handhelds , users can use the devices they already have and the networks they already subscribe to and communicate via PTT with other teams and individuals both inside and outside of their communication system .
New enhancements to nanotron swarm bee nanotron Technologies , a leader in easy-to-use solutions for location-awareness recently outlined new fusion applications for its Chirp and UWB enabled swarm bee family of locationaware radio modules . “ The powerful combination of Chirp and Ultra-Wide Band ( UWB ) technologies now available in the swarm bee family provides an excellent way for customers to fuse technologies to provide both long range radio robustness and accuracy combined with short range high precision ” commented Marcel Borwitzky , Senior Product Manager at nanotron . nanotron ’ s swarm bee LE ( Low Energy ) module is optimised for radio robustness and long range , providing up to 1.2 km of range with 1 m accuracy with a very high speed 1.8 ms air-time ranging cycle . “ This provides an excellent low-latency platform for collision avoidance system ( CAS ) applications , and is particularly well-suited to managing high-speed vehicles in congested areas where there are large numbers of vehicles and personnel .”
Motorola expands offering in South Africa
Motorola Solutions Inc , the global provider of innovative mission-critical communication solutions and services , says it now offers South Africa businesses increased productivity with the launch of next-generation communication solutions for mines and other industries . New products including next-generation MOTOTRBO radios and interoperability communication solution , WAVE 3000 , will be available through Motorola Solutions ’ experienced South African partners .
Laurent Tribout , Director of Sales Channels for Motorola Solutions Africa states : “ Building upon
swarm bee LE and ER used in a mine safety implementation
92 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2016