Rugged telematics for mining fleets
Wenco International Mining Systems (Hitachi Construction Machinery)
Collecting and processing data as close as possible to the machines
Owasys owa5X
The problem
For more than thirty years, Wenco International Mining Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, has been developing a suite of solutions for the digital transformation of the mining industry. Based in Vancouver, the company's mission is to raise mine productivity, lower routine costs and make operations safer.
For its next generation of telematic systems, Wenco needed a rugged onboard edge device able to collect high-frequency data over the CAN bus of very diverse machines, process it locally and transmit it reliably — all under mining site conditions and often in confined locations.
The solution
Wenco partnered with Owasys to integrate the owa5X, an open Linux gateway, as the onboard device of its telematics. Five characteristics weighed in the decision:
- Robust local processing: an i.MX8 M Plus quad-core A53 64-bit processor and ample memory (2 GB LPDDR4, 1 GB NAND Flash SLC, 8 GB eMMC Flash) for complex processing at the edge.
- Comprehensive connectivity: Global LTE Cat 4, up to four CAN FD buses, WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, to integrate with the systems and sensors already on board.
- Rugged design: an IP67 / IP6K9K enclosure that withstands the conditions typical of mining operations.
- Open platform: running open Linux, the owa5X can be customized and will accompany future technology integrations.
- Edge processing: by processing data on board, the unit reduces latency in critical operations and the volume transmitted, which optimizes network usage.
Implementation
- Connection to numerous machine types — haul trucks, excavators — the compact design of the owa5X permitting installation in confined spaces.
- Deployment of cyber security software at the on-board device level, which was granted an industry-recognized certification.
- High-frequency collection over the CAN bus, with processing and packaging of machine data on board.
- Reliability confirmed throughout Wenco's field trials and commercial installations.
The result
By providing a powerful, flexible and rugged platform for data processing and communication, the owa5X enables Wenco to offer mining companies unprecedented visibility into their operations, and to use telematics to improve fleet performance.
