Let
me analyze solution that could be provided by Ericsson and Ambra using 5G
technology and military telecom model, i.e. RBS equipped with an RBS Box
(server), and those RBS Boxes could communicate with each other in a network as
well as to its central server using wireless communication.
1.
General Information
A
mine must have its modelling to estimate the volume of each level, and amount of
air required at each section in activity occurred.
At
the junction of the shaft and each level,
·
An RBS and its Box could be installed to provide 5G communication
to the entire level and staff working there. The RBS Box could be equipped with
wireless LAN to communicate with the RBS Box at level above it in order to get
its signals relayed back to the central center on the ground for decision
making.
·
A powerful fan is installed and supplementary fans (if needed)
provide necessary airflow to miners working in this level.
Above
ground at the shaft position, there could be a very powerful fan blowing air
along the shaft. The air will be then pumped to required level by junctional
fans to each level as needed.
Depending
on the number of miners and equipment operated in each level, the amount of
airflow may be different. Bestech estimates that each staff would require 1
CKFM, and a pickup truck may require 2 CKFM (my guess). The speed of fans above
ground and junctional fans would be operated differently to push required
airflow to the area of mining activity.
2.
5G Solution
Each
junctional fan would be communicated with the junctional RBS Box using wireless
LAN. The communication signals/messages would be relayed to 5G central server using RBS
Box’s network. The 5G central server would pass information to the fan/airflow/mining
server, so it could analyze and perform required tasks. The airflow server
could adjust speed of a junctional fan by sending signals or messages (command data) to 5G
central server, where information will be relayed to the junctional RBS Box and
then the junctional fan.
Each
miner would be assigned a mobile phone with an interface to attach his equipment
with his ID.
For
example, John will be working on Level A with a pickup truck, thus Level A would
require 3 KCFM.
·
John must open a user interface on his phone to assign a pickup
truck to his ID or phone.
·
When John is in Level A, the Level A’s RBS would detect his mobile
phone via registration or a phone call. The Level A’s RBS Box would relay information
back to its 5G server, where information will be passed on a network to the airflow
server.
·
The airflow server would calculate speeds of the above ground fan
and junctional fan(s) in order to provide 3 KCFM in Level A.
·
The airflow server would send a command to required fan(s), via 5G
central server and RBS Boxes, in order to set their speeds accordingly.
When
John left Level A, the RBS Box and airflow server would perform required tasks
to turn off junctional fans to save energy.
John could actively assign and remove any equipment
associated to his ID on his phone in order to get enough airflow in his working
area. The
ID of his phone and associated equipment ID would be passed to the airflow
server via RBS Box network and its central server, e.g. an automated
application on his mobile phone fetching and sending data periodically OR
after an assign or unassigned of equipment ID, an mobile phone app would send
data back.3. Tracking or automate equipment operations
Tracking a staff movement or presence in a level could be done by tracking his mobile phone. An exact location would require GPS or more RBSs in each level and the mining drift is not uniformed. I am not sure about this. The tracking server could communicate with 5G central server in similar way as the airflow server.
If Ambra and Ericsson wanted to remotely control equipment in an area, they must install special control box in the equipment, and remotely control those equipment from above ground using RBS Box network as described above.
News: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ericsson-ambra-sign-global-contract-143100142.html
Disclaimers: I don’t know how Ericsson and Ambra positioned their RBS and fans, which could change the communication strategy described above. Each mine configuration is different too.
