In the territory of the SUEK (Siberian Energy and Coal Company) coal mine in Khakassia, a 5G pilot zone is being developed for the first time where tests of the capacity of the fifth-generation network incorporated in the robotic transport system are being conducted. of merchandise, designed by the Zyfra company.
This pilot project is implemented in the BELAZ-7513R 130-ton mining dump trucks. The robotic dump trucks are part of the Intelligent Quarry system developed by the Zyfra company for the total automation of the management of extraction and transport processes in mining companies.
For these tests, on the territory of the Chernogorsky coal mine (Abakn Open Pit Mine, Chernogorsk City, Khakassia) a 1.5 km section of the wireless network has been deployed that operates under the 5G standard and covers the path of movement of robots. Coverage is ensured by two stations distributed in two sectors, which operate under the 5G standard (gNodeB) in non-standalone phase. The width of the channel used is 100 MHz.
The main task of the pilot project is to test the 5G network for the control of unmanned and remote transport, as well as to discover and document the technological advantages of the next-generation network over the industrial Wi-Fi / MESH network. .
As part of the 5G technology use tests, all the functional capacity of the robotic assembly has been mobilized. All the information on the video emission from the high-resolution cameras, installed following the perimeter of the dump trucks, is transmitted in real time to the data processing center for the control of the machinery. In this way, the use of 5G technology makes it possible to ensure high data transmission speeds and reduce delays to a minimum, which significantly increases the precision of movements and the security in the control of these huge machines, compared to wireless networks. previously employed.
In the field of the industrial internet of things, the development of next-generation communication networks can become the catalyst for the implementation of new technologies. Precisely 5G will be the new communication standard for automation tasks: the high data transmission speed and the real absence of delays will make this standard an essential instrument for all unmanned systems, and especially those of the industry linked to risk. We are very grateful to the colleagues of the SUEK company for offering us the possibility to demonstrate the advantages of the new generation networks for the Russian industry, and we are ready to continue supporting the initiatives of our partners. 5G networks ensure a more stable connection and a minimum delay of control signals, critical factors for the management and administration of remote transport, and furthermore, they are not affected by interference that may be generated by existing Wi-Fi networks.
Pavel Rastopshin, Managing Director of Zyfra Company:
The robotic dump trucks allow to significantly increase the productivity of the transport of goods (up to 30%) thanks to the reduction of non-technological stops related to the human factor (shift changes, lunch breaks, etc.), the increase in speed average movement of the robotic dump trucks during the route, thus increasing the number of trips per shift (by approximately 20%). The 5G network showed its reliability for the tasks of implementation of robotic machinery in open pit mining works. Although for launching and escalating robotic machinery, other data transmission standards may also be employed. The quality of the service provided and an appropriate cost with respect to the economy where the robotic machinery will be implemented for its operation in a specific section of the mine are important to select a specific data transmission technology.
Dmitry Sizemov, Deputy Director for Information Technology at SUEK, SA:In the 10 years of implementation in our companies of Internet of Things technologies based on MESH, it is the first time that we are testing an alternative technology and it shows very well from a technical point of view. The implementation of 5G networks in open pit mines opens up great prospects not only for robotic systems, but also for cutting-edge solutions in industrial safety, monitoring and control, which require increasing speed and reliability in transmission. data, in addition to flexibility and autonomy with respect to fixed structures. Our pilot project, developed together with the Zyfra company in Khakassia, is the first case of practical implementation of Russian-made robotic tippers. Thanks to the resources of the new generation wireless network from Beeline and Huawei, today we are achieving unmanned machine productivity that is impossible for humans to achieve. At SUEK we are currently evaluating the possibilities of applying the robotization process in other companies. The industrial implementation of 5G, based on this case, confidently shows the place of these technologies in the long-term digital transformation process.
Aiden Wu, Huawei’s CEO Eurasia, says: 4G changed our lives and now 5G is transforming our society. Being a technology that brings everything together, 5G will bring us a new intelligent world. The mining industry has always been, and remains, a high-risk industry. The demonstration of machinery for the remote extraction of natural resources, operating with 5G technology, makes possible the automation of the most dangerous part of this industry. This fact significantly increases efficiency and safety in this sector. In the future, mining industry employees will be able to carry out their work from the comfort of an air-conditioned office. It is a big step for this entire industry. Beeline and Huawei have been collaborating and studying the possibilities of 5G for a long time. Having shown cases of holographic call, remote operation and now also remote extraction of mineral resources, we are sure that very soon 5G will be available to any of us and to any branch of the economy.
Cheng Yungi, the vice president of TD Tech Company, comments: TD Tech, a subsidiary of Huawei, has developed and introduced the 5G CPE for industrial networks and installed it in a truck that operates with remote control. It has been designed based on the Huawei Balong 5000 integrated circuit assembly, which ensures 5G productivity and stability in interaction with the user. The industrial level protection, the antenna design, the various industrial interfaces and extensive routing possibilities of the 5G CPE meet the requirements posed by different scenarios. The company TD Tech is a specialist in communication solutions for markets, and its 5G CPE industrial level is one of the most cutting-edge devices among the 5G devices of Huawei and TD Tech.
Pilot tests of robotic tippers in the coal quarry will last several weeks.
