Fifth Generation Cellular Networks for Underground Block Cave Mining: A Position Paper

Branch, Philip

doi:10.1109/ictc52510.2021.9620942

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The network must provide coverage near the mobile machines, as the rock mass limits the range of the network. As the automation and teleoperation areas move or change, it becomes more challenging to maintain the network, as the coverage is very limited in these areas [ 35 ].…”

Section: Use-case-based Categorisation Of Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For these reasons, Wi-Fi 6 has been considered an alternative to a (private) 5G cellular network for communication and data exchange in coal mines [ 35 ]. Wi-Fi has a different set of characteristics stemming from its targeted indoor application compared to cellular networks, namely, the lower coverage area per basis and the lower power consumption [ 46 ].…”

Section: Automation and Teleoperationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The technologies are applicable for teleoperation and meet the best score on the scale with high ~10 Mbit/s rates and milliseconds in latency [ 35 ]. However, 5G and 6 GHz Wi-Fi do have an additional potential to support higher rates (indicated by a +).…”

Section: Automation and Teleoperationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use-Case-Oriented Evaluation of Wireless Communication Technologies for Advanced Underground Mining Operations

Theissen

Kern

Hartmann

et al. 2023

Sensors

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This work aims to give an overview of wireless communication technologies (WCT) for underground applications. Difficulties regarding the harsh mining environment and operational constraints for WCT implementation and use are discussed. Selected technologies are then classified regarding underground mining-specific use cases in advanced mining operations. Use-case-based application categories such as ‘automation and teleoperation’, ‘tracking and tracing’ and ‘Long-Range Underground Monitoring (LUM)’ are defined. The use cases determine requirements for the operational suitability and also quantify evaluation criteria for the evaluation of WCT. The result is a comparison by category of the wireless technologies, which underlines potentials of different technologies for defined use cases, but it can be concluded that the technology always has to be evaluated within the use case and operational constraints.

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Section: Use-case-based Categorisation Of Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Automation and Teleoperationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use-Case-Oriented Evaluation of Wireless Communication Technologies for Advanced Underground Mining Operations

Theissen

Kern

Hartmann

et al. 2023

Sensors

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“…Although there has been some movement towards a possible role for cellular systems, their very high cost generally limits their use underground [3]. There has been some investigation into whether the distributed Radio Access Network of 5G may prove to be more economically feasible than previous cellular generations [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurements and Models of 915 MHz LoRa Radio Propagation in an Underground Gold Mine

Branch

2022

Sensors

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Underground mining increasingly relies on wireless communications for its operations. The move to automating many underground mining processes makes an understanding of the propagation characteristics of key wireless technologies underground a topic of considerable importance. LoRa has great potential for communications in underground mines, but data on its propagation are quite scarce. In this paper, we describe our measurements of LoRa radio propagation in an underground gold mine. We took measurements in an extraction tunnel with line of sight and in extraction and access tunnels without line of sight. We observed excellent propagation, both with and without line of sight. Our observations support claims by others that the steel-lined tunnels act as a waveguide. As well as reporting measurements, we also developed models of propagation. For line of sight, we show that pathloss is well modelled by a power law with pathloss index of 1.25 and that variability of signal strength is well modelled by a lognormal distribution. We also successfully modelled propagation without line of sight over short distances using a Fresnel Diffraction and Free Space model.

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Bridging depths and data in mines: 5G-based point cloud mapping in unstructured environments

Krishnan,

Lee,

Emontsbotz

et al. 2024

Constr Robot

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Underground mines pose significant challenges, including hazardous working conditions, limited access, and the need to ensure the safety of human workers. Digital transformation through the integration of modern technologies is essential to mitigate these challenges and enhance the overall safety and efficiency of mining operations. This paper addresses the pressing need for 5G connectivity for the digital transformation of underground mines and demonstrates its application through a live 3D point cloud mapping by a mobile robot. The results of the experiments conducted to validate the network’s performance for such a use-case are presented. The first experiment involved testing the latency of the network over a test drift at various loads. The second experiment involved mapping the drift and streaming the 3D point cloud map of the drift over the 5G network. These initial experiments emphasize the potential of the 5G-enabled automation in underground mines and holds promise in digitalizing underground mining operations.

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Fifth Generation Cellular Networks for Underground Block Cave Mining: A Position Paper

Cited by 3 publications

References 16 publications

Use-Case-Oriented Evaluation of Wireless Communication Technologies for Advanced Underground Mining Operations

Use-Case-Oriented Evaluation of Wireless Communication Technologies for Advanced Underground Mining Operations

Measurements and Models of 915 MHz LoRa Radio Propagation in an Underground Gold Mine

Bridging depths and data in mines: 5G-based point cloud mapping in unstructured environments

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