Wireless Mesh Delivers Highest Quality Communications at Rio's Kennecott Copper Mine
There has been a lot of talk about wireless mesh systems being used in mines. A lot of it has not advanced past small scale trials and talk, however Rajant Corporation's technology is fully operational at a number of mines and other industrial applications around the world.
Working with Rajant, Mine Site Technologies is introducing this most advanced wireless mesh communications available to a range of mining applications. Initial Australian installations have been in both underground and surface applications. However, the largest wireless mesh system that Rajant has installed is in the United States.
The Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation (KUCC) mining operations run non-stop for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. The requirement was to manage over 85 300–ton haul trucks and 62 pieces of auxiliary gear that include dozers and graders. In addition, KUCC would need to connect 12 shovels, pumps, operations vehicles and other production equipment in to the wireless network for control and management.
The overall dimensions of the mine are approximately
2.5 miles (4.02 km) across by 1 mile (1.61 km) deep.
The furthest dump site is 6.4 miles from the pit. This
wireless network would require an enormous amount of
coordination, scale, planning and support
infrastructure.
Rajant's wireless mesh met all the challenges presented by the physical demands of the site and the quality of service demanded by Kennecott engineers. A detailed description of the wireless mesh system, from it's justification through to implementation and use by Kennecott, can be read at: