NETWORKS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Across both paths, the key design consideration is the growing need for cyber security across the backdrop of an increasing number of connected devices managing telemetry, control and safety. Understanding the technology, applications and business use will be the critical factor in determining the success of any modernisation effort.”
New network options
In February, GE Digital, Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc announced that the companies had successfully demonstrated a private LTE network for the Industrial Internet of Things( IIoT) market; meshing together each party’ s platforms and technologies. In addition, the companies have announced plans to further research and conduct live field trials throughout 2017 based on this demonstration, designed to advance the digitisation of industrial processes.
“ Industrial companies often have local connectivity needs and operate in remote locations or temporary sites, such as mines, power plants, offshore oil platforms, factories, warehouses or ports— connectivity for these environments can be challenging. A standalone LTE network to serve devices and users within a localised area can help improve performance and reliability for these industrial settings.”
Private LTE-based networks utilise LTE-based technologies in a shared / unlicensed / dedicatedlicensed spectrum. This demonstration utilised LTE-TDD in the US 3.5 GHz shared spectrum band also known as Citizens Broadband Radio Service( CBRS). With MulteFire™, unlicensed spectrum bands can be used to create private LTE-based networks, such as the 5 GHz band available globally.
“ As part of the collaboration and technology demonstration, Qualcomm Technologies will provide the wireless technology and device chipsets. Nokia will be providing base station infrastructure plus the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud service to run the network as an on demand private network. GE is integrating these new types of connectivity into its Predix platform – an open-architecture operating system for the Industrial Internet – to help industrial companies better manage their assets and operations, often found far from the public communications networks.”
Further, the agreements between the parties include the installation of a private LTE network at GE Digital’ s headquarters in San Ramon, California, which GE will use to further develop its Predix platform.
“ Connecting the world’ s machines to an industrial operating system like Predix is vital to unlocking the data and insights necessary to both increase efficiency and drive adoption of emerging technologies, such as machine learning
and computer vision, in industry,” said Peter Marx, Vice President, Advanced Concepts, GE Digital.“ Bringing LTE-based networks that use shared and unlicensed spectrum to our customers operating in remote and unpopulated locations is a powerful advancement beyond what is available today.”
“ Private LTE networks bring an entirely new level of advanced, low latency and robust wireless connectivity solutions into verticals and industries” said Stephan Litjens, GM Digital Automation, Nokia.“ This allows companies to significantly increase the level of automation and analytics in use by adding more sensors, IoT devices, robotics and in general use wireless connectivity for their business and production critical processes. With this collaboration, Nokia accelerates the promise of automated industry by supporting a ' plug n play ' private LTE ecosystem. The combination of capabilities from GE, Qualcomm, and Nokia is ideal to bring the promise of analytics in end-to-end industrial IoT solutions to life.”
The companies conclude:“ Private LTE-based networks will enable industries and enterprises to own and manage their own LTE network without requiring licensed spectrum and still enjoy the high-performance benefits from LTE with a strong roadmap to 5G. Private LTE-based networks also offer the ability to customise the dedicated LTE network for the company’ s specific applications, such as optimising for capacity, quality-of-service, or guaranteed latencies.”
Underground networks and data handling
As stated, underground mining is lagging in terms of private LTE. Canada’ s Ambra Solutions states:“ The clear majority of underground mines in operation today make use of traditional twoway LMR based radio systems with leaky feeders to address their voice communication needs and wireless data communication typically relies on Wi-Fi based networks. One solution which is emerging as clear winner to achieve the goals of increasing safety, efficiency and productivity of the underground mines’ operation is based on the cellular LTE network technology.”
In Canada, Ambra Solutions working with Ecotel says it has emerged as the only mobile network operator( MNO) dedicated to serving the
GE states that private LTE networks bring an entirely new level of advanced, low latency and robust wireless connectivity solutions into verticals and industries
industrial market with private LTE networks.“ LTE networks deployed for our mining customers open up a new suite of capabilities and possibilities to cost effectively enable many Smart Mining related tasks for open pits or underground mines.” The company cites a number of specialised tasks and applications,“ which are difficult or simply impossible to achieve across the entire mining coverage area when using legacy LMR and / or WiFi based technologies.”
They include a wide range of tasks including remote control operation of fixed and mobile mining machinery underground, dispatch systems, security surveillance camera monitoring, access control systems, power network monitoring, mobile equipment health monitoring, alarm monitoring of portable machinery, treatment plant monitoring, automated collection of mine slope wall data, water level monitoring and supply control systems, ventilation fan monitoring, conveyor monitoring and interlock, detection of moving machinery and collision awareness systems, gas detection systems, remote control and alarms for emergency generators, fatigue monitoring, and asset and human tracking.
Ambra adds:“ This highly secured private LTE cellular network provides data and voice mobility services using low frequency which allows a better propagation than any other technology. Operating with highly sensitive licensed bands, the proposed solutions can receive a signal in an exceptional way to offer a high-speed and longrange coverage. In addition to all these advantages, the LTE technology does not require active components in the tunnels. Optimisation of the communication, increasing security, and reducing operation costs, are at the forefront of opting for the best available technology. The technologies behind LTE make it one of the most
30 International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2017