Like other open pit mines, the Chilean gold mine was looking to automation in order to increase efficiencies and reduce costs. They chose to put in a state-of-the-art fleet management system (FMS) to increase productivity. The benefits of this system included the Bench Manager solution and high-precision systems for drill machines and loading units, as well as an asset health solution for the entire fleet. Everything was to be connected using an LTE network, but there was risk of not meeting deadlines as the network was taking to long to set up. The mine needed to find a solution in regards to their network that would be quick to deploy, and create scalability without any additional OPEX costs.
Since the mine needed a network to be built in a matter of weeks and not months, it was decided that the FMS would be supported by Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh network. This would provide the speed and performance scalability that the mine required, without annual recurring expenses. This Mesh would address the need for real-time connectivity operating in the extreme conditions found at the mine. The mesh network would be built out using the ME4 and ES1 BreadCrumb® models working in conjunction with Rajant’s patented InstaMesh® protocol. The ME4 provide portability whilst bringing the power of multi-frequency access, high bandwidth, and constant connectivity to vehicles, equipment, and even people. The ES1 is a commercial-grade version of the ME4 that are ruggedized to withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, and shock. These self-configure for easy deployment and secure coverage across an entire mobile operating environment.