From the “New Mining Network Orbits” issue written by International Mining (pages 84 to 88):
NEW AMBRA-SANDVIK PARTNERSHIP KEEPS MINING CONNECTED
A recent partnership with Ambra Solutions brings additional connectivity and capabilities to Sandvik’s automated mining solutions. With the ongoing shift towards autonomous mining, highspeed connectivity in this environment is becoming more crucial than ever. “It’s no different than needing water and air for mining – mines will also need reliable connectivity,” says David Hallett, Vice President Automation, at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.
In March, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions announced a partnership with Ambra Solutions, a telecommunication integrator and provider of private Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G networks. The partnership enables integration of Ambra Solutions’ connectivity into Sandvik’s AutoMine® systems.
LTE/5G networks provide high-speed data connectivity and security with encryption and authentication built into the network. The wireless broadband technology tends to be the connectivity solution of choice for businesses due to higher reliability and security compared to WiFi networks.
Incorporated in 2007, Sandvik’s new Canadian partner has solid expertise in manufacturing products and services designed for challenging mining environments and remote areas. “Underground mining is a demanding environment that requires robust and reliable connectivity solutions. It is important to understand how to design to withstand these harsh operating environments and Ambra Solutions stands out with a proven track record in mining expertise,” says Hallett. “They understand what an OT (operational technology) rather than IT environment looks like and offer services to back that.”
The partnership developed through mutual satisfied customers. “Ambra has a good reputation among our customers and specific expertise deploying in the mining domain. They have the same service mentality as Sandvik to serve the customer at the highest level,” Hallett says, adding that Ambra Solutions can provide customers with 24-hour service and support agreements.
Sandvik’s AutoMine® group of products includes autonomous and remotely operated mobile equipment in both underground and surface mining operations. With these products, operators are able to control and monitor operations from the comfort and safety of a remote control room.
The partnership provides underground connectivity for AutoMine® systems that is highly secure, safe, reliable and high-speed. With advanced data connectivity, users have access to real-time communication, advanced location and asset tracking enhancing safety and productivity. Reliable connectivity not only keeps equipment up and running, but also increases the level of security by providing location data in the event of an accident or incident.
An additional benefit with this partnership is that it will reduce the testing time required on customer sites. “This not only enhances productivity and performance, but also ensures cost-effectiveness for mining operations”, Hallett points out. “We now have the framework for how to connect Ambra and Sandvik products together and our test mine in Tampere, Finland gives us the capability to test connectivity ahead of time and validate it. That accelerates the installation process for customers.”
Eric L’Heureux, Founder and CEO of Ambra Solutions, shared: “Partnerships are the core of any innovation. That’s what the Tampere mine project proved. Our reliable and mission-critical private LTE/5G joined with Sandvik’s AutoMine fleet set new standards for mining operations and paved the way towards a smarter mining industry.”
The partnership will also provide connectivity solutions for Sandvik’s surface mining solutions. “We are working together with Ambra and pairing 46 solutions with our surface drilling products,” adds Hallett.
At the same time, Hallett stresses that AutoMine®, which is network agnostic, enables customers to use any network that meets the minimum requirements for AutoMine connectivity. “The industry is evolving, and more and more mines are becoming connected, but each mine has its own unique environment in terms of technology and each mine has its own specific requirements. Ambra Solutions is a reliable and innovative option going forward and for customers looking for a higher speed connection.”
Sandvik’s history of providing proven underground solutions with automation for loading and hauling dates back to 2004. Today, more than 1,000 underground and surface units operate worldwide at more than 100 customer sites, underlining Sandvik’s commitment to delivering reliable and innovative AutoMine® solutions for mining.
Ambra Solutions has deployed over 800 km of 4G/5G coverage in underground tunnels. With more than 50 underground and open pit mines deployed across 10 countries, Ambra says it is the world leader in deploying mining mission-critical 4G/5G networks.
The engineering firm, founded in 2007, says it is revolutionising telecommunications for mission-critical operations. Ambra Solutions prides itself on being an integrator of state-of-the-art technology and a manufacturer of customised products tailored for sustaining harsh environments. It says its team of highly specialised engineers and technicians “distinguishes itself by a thirst for doing the impossible and a passion for offering personalised solutions, thereby transforming contracts into partnerships.”
AMBRA SOLUTIONS iPS GETS CANADIAN PATENT
Elsewhere, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office has officially approved the patent for Ambra Solutions’ iPS (intelligence positioning system) marking, what Ambra says is a great milestone for not only the company, but for the whole mining industry.
“We are very excited to receive this patent for the leading-edge tracking system we worked so hard on and are proud to have successfully deployed in several mines who are thrilled by the enhancement of their efficiency and safety throughout their operations thanks to this technology,” L’Heureux said.
In the heart of even the most remote open-pit or underground mines, Ambra creates and deploys private LTE/5G networks tailored to each mine’s needs, woven to ensure seamless communication. Within this network, discreet yet powerful Ambra beacons are strategically positioned, emitting unique identifiers locally and, empowered by the network, connected devices gather the information to relay crucial data to its iPS core, the company explains. Complementing this infrastructure is a tracking controller integrated into the network, mapping each beacon’s identifier to its spatial coordinates in real time. And beyond tracking, this solution boasts integration capabilities, allowing the integration of data from other systems, integration with third party technologies (VoD, other location equipment vendors, etc), auto-creation of unsurveyed or drawn maps, high accuracy positioning in real time and review travel history.
Intercepting the beacon identifier transmitted via the radio frequency network by the communication device and leveraging the tracking data repository to match the received identifier with its corresponding spatial coordinates, the data culminates at the control centre where it is analysed and aggregated to be visualised on a 3D interface in real time, facilitating near-instantaneous critical decision making, Ambra says.
It continues: “With this innovative patented solution, pinpointing the exact location of all communication devices connected to the iPS ecosystem within the remote environment becomes seamless and efficient, making mines not only optimally performant, but most of all, ensuring the safety of its workers.”
L’Heureux added: “This unique patent allows us to provide a reliable underground tracking system powered by the same 4G/5G cable used for communication. In addition to eliminating maintenance, this solution allows mining companies to reduce battery-powered beacons and avoid disposing batteries on a regular basis.”
Find out more about inovation and all subject regarding the evolution of the mining industry in the 2024 september issue of IM International Mining magazine.
