RFI Digital Drift - Introduction - working copy · 2018-06-26 · consolidated every 1-2km Voltage boost &protection System operates from 20 –60 Volts DC POWER CONNECTIVITY

System Introduction

INTERNATIONAL PATENT PENDING

Deploying & maintaining an underground network is a compromise

The Digital Drift System addresses the shortcomings of currently available systems

Leaky Feeder

• Limited data rates• Only viable for a small number of Ethernet endpoints

Cable Modem

• Complex to maintain• Headend (CMTS) is a single point of failure

• Data rate is shared across all endpoints

Fibre / Composite Fibre

• Expensive to deploy & maintain• Repair is impractical• Power required at each Ethernet outlet, or sent along a separate cable


Rugged devices from Industrial Ethernet vendors are commercial off-the-shelf

Fit for purpose endpoint devices are readily available

Data: 10/100/1000 EthernetPower: PoE / PoE+


and the key to success underground is ease of installation and advance

... but the challenge in an UG environment is power and connectivity

POWER CONNECTIVITY DEPLOYMENT

AC power is rarely available where devices are required

AC power is often unreliable and ‘dirty’

UG distribution switches are too far from locations where devices are required

Devices often need to be installed in locations not originally planned for

Devices are deployed in a linear topology

The network must be easily extendable by the UG trades as the workings advance.


Power is distributed over the communications cable with the data

Digital Drift eliminates separate power distribution

Voltage boost & protection

PoE+

PoE+ PoE+

PoE+

DATA

POWER• Ultra Low Resistance cable• Extra Low Voltage (ELV)• Transient protection (e.g. lighting, locomotives)

Benefits:• PoE+ outlets can be tapped off the cable wherever endpoint devices are required

• Power centres (DC UPS) can be consolidated every 1-2km

Voltage boost & protection

System operates from 20 – 60 Volts DC

POWER

CONNECTIVITY

DEPLOYMENT


up to 2km

node separation

Adhere to corporate networking standards, without vendor lock-in

Digital Drift connects any Ethernet device

Benefits:• Integrates with your existing distribution network

• Enables your preferred endpoint devices

• Remotely manageable

Managed Layer 2 Switch

inside

High-speed native Ethernet backbone

POWER

CONNECTIVITY

DEPLOYMENT


While providing a full-speed, native Ethernet network

Digital Drift is as easy to install as a leaky feeder system

CUT

STRIP / CORE

CONNECT

Benefits:

• UG trades can advance and branch the network easily

• Damage can be readily repaired with simple tools in wet, dirty and dusty conditions

• Additional network outlets can be added to an existing cable

• Extra Low Voltage (ELV)

POWER

CONNECTIVITY

DEPLOYMENT

ATTACH


Power distribution, broadband access and ease of installation: solved in a cost effective way

Digital Drift overcomes the challenges of UG networks

POWER

CONNECTIVITY

DEPLOYMENT

• Distributes reliable, standards compliant power

• Full speed native Ethernet communications• Inter-operable with your preferred network equipment & endpoint devices.

• Can be installed, maintained and advanced by the UG trades• As easy to install as leaky feeder


Digital Drift solves the transport layer problem, the applications solve the business problems

Digital Drift enables your applications

Tele-remote &

autonomous machines

Refuge chamber

monitoring

Environmental monitoring

Video surveillance

Wi-Fi & LTE/4G connectivity

Asset tracking


Solve power distribution and network connectivity problems using a single cable

Digital Drift is designed for distributed industrial sites

Primary markets:

• Underground hard rock mines

• Tunnel construction

Secondary markets:

• Agriculture, with high animal density:• Feed lots

• Dairy farms

• Water management

• Overland ‘long-line’ systems:• Conveyors

• Pipelines

• Processing plants:• Concentrators

• Smelters

• Prisons


Objective: Use RCT ControlMaster to operate loaders from the surface across shift changes

Case Study: Tele-remote from surface

Challenge:

• Connect 11 levels to the surface cost effectively.

• Deploy & maintain using the in-house team.

Result:

• Installed in 7 days.

• Cost was 35% of the fibre alternative.

• An extra 2-3 hours of loading can be achieved per day.

Solution:

• Digital Drift System:

• 11 x Quadports, 2 x DC UPS’, 2km of cable.

• Integrate with the single, existing fibre uplink.

• Cable deployed down escape ways.


Objective: Understand the deployment patterns of a large African workforce to increase time at the working face for full-time workers, and to only pay contractors for work performed.

Case Study: Analysis of labour deployment

Challenge:

• Power and connect Zebra PoE RFID readers at shaft banks, access roadways, refuge chambers & on the decline.

• Deploy & maintain using the in-house team.

Result:

• Full safety compliance with self-rescuer requirements.

• Contractor cost savings of over $1m in the first 6 months.

Solution:

• Fibre down the shafts and to the workshops;

• Digital Drift extends the network down the decline and into the levels:

• Over 20 Quadports, 6 x DC UPS’, 8km of cable.


Objective: Remotely monitor refuge chambers at a large African mine to ensure they are used appropriately and are operationally ready in the event of an emergency.

Case Study: Refuge chamber connectivity

Challenge:

• Provide video, telephony, RFID tracking, Wi-Fi & remote condition monitoring to permanent chambers & portable Minearc refuge chambers.

• Be able to disconnect & reconnect as refuge chambers advance with the mining operation.

Result:

• Reduced refuge chamber abuse.

• Emergency drills are measured and analysed.

• All chambers have voice, video, tracking & environmental monitoring.

Solution:

• Digital Drift extends out from the workshops & shaft banks to the refuge chamber locations:

• 12 x Quadports, 3 x DC UPS’, 5km of cable.


Objective: Enable surface control room operators to visualise underground operations to: measure productivity, categorise bottlenecks & identify root causes of incidents.

Case Study: Video monitoring

Challenge:

• Provide video surveillance to remote areas of the mine.

• Ensure the cameras can be rapidly deployed and moved when required.

Result:

• More rapid incident response.

• Accurate root cause analysis.

Solution:

• Fibre to shaft banks and workshops.

• Digital Drift extends the network to the working areas.

• Over 200 IP cameras from Pelco & HIK Vision.

• Synology Network Video Recorder (NVR).


2-way radio, data networking, LTE/4G & solar solutions are available for your industrial work site

RFI offers a full range of industrial communications solutions

Documents

RFI Digital Drift - Introduction - working copy · 2018-06-26 · consolidated every 1-2km Voltage boost &protection System operates from 20 –60 Volts DC POWER CONNECTIVITY