In the previous issue, we discussed the advantages of copper rod antennas for mining sensors. Some fans had questions about the wireless technology of our sensors, so this issue will focus on Lora wireless technology. What is its principle, and what advantages does it have in mining wireless sensors? Let’s take a look…
LoRa is a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) wireless communication technology. The demand for wireless communication technology that can achieve long-distance, low-power, and large-scale connections is increasing, and it is mainly used to solve the long-distance communication problems between sensors and controllers in IoT applications while ensuring communication quality and reducing device power consumption and costs.
LoRa technology is known for its low power characteristics, which are crucial for sensors that need to operate for long periods underground.
One of the significant advantages of LoRa technology is its long-distance transmission capability. In ideal open environments, the transmission distance can reach 10-15 kilometers or even further. In actual urban environments, although obstacles such as buildings may attenuate the signal, it can still achieve an effective transmission distance of about 1-3 kilometers. This long-distance transmission capability makes it very suitable for large-scale IoT application scenarios, such as urban infrastructure monitoring and extensive monitoring in agricultural parks.
LoRa devices have excellent low power performance. Terminal devices can have power consumption as low as microamps in sleep mode, and even in working mode, the power consumption remains relatively low. This allows devices to rely on batteries for long-term power supply, reducing the hassle of frequent battery replacements. For example, a smart water meter using LoRa technology can operate for several years on standard batteries with a well-designed working mode.
LoRa technology can support a large number of devices connected simultaneously. A single gateway can typically connect thousands of terminal devices, providing good support for large-scale IoT applications. For instance, in a smart city project that requires the deployment of numerous smart traffic and environmental monitoring devices, LoRa technology’s large capacity connection feature can meet this demand.
Due to the use of spread spectrum modulation technology, LoRa signals have strong anti-interference capabilities. They can stably transmit signals in complex electromagnetic environments, such as in urban areas where there are many Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless devices that cause interference, LoRa signals can still accurately transmit data.
Summary: Lora performs exceptionally well in open ground environments. However, due to the tunnel-like structure of most coal mines, Lora‘s penetration capability is significantly reduced. Still, compared to Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and other wireless technologies, it has clear advantages, making it very suitable for low-data wireless signal transmission underground.
The mining wireless sensor antenna utilizing LoRa wireless technology not only has significant advantages such as low power consumption, long-distance transmission, strong anti-interference capabilities, and large capacity connections, but also has a profound impact and significance on the development of mining sensors.
