In an era where technology is reshaping industries, Nokia has been recognized for its groundbreaking contributions mining, winning the Research and Development award for its pioneering work in cognitive mining technologies.
The Mining Technology Excellence Awards honor the most significant achievements and innovations in the mining industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies leading change and shaping the future of the industry.
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Nokia won the award for developing a groundbreaking solution for a network digital twin that can create a Cognitive Digital Mine (CDM) that thinks and acts on its own. The CDM solution is an industrial real-time artificial intelligence (AI) platform for faster, predictive and better decisions to boost mine resource planning, asset usage, scheduling and operational safety. Cognitive approach to smart operations is empowering companies to do more with less, and to do it sustainably by improving safety and increasing efficiency, productivity and profitability.
Revolutionizing mining operations with AI and IoT technologies
Nokia’s R&D efforts to integrate AI and IoT into mining operations have led to the development of the Cognitive Digital Mine (CDM) platform. The CDM represents a significant advancement in how mining operations can leverage technology to improve efficiency and safety. By allowing mines to operate as interconnected systems capable of sensing, thinking, and acting autonomously, Nokia is redefining operational paradigms.
For instance, the CDM utilizes real-time data from various sources, including autonomous drilling equipment and hauling trucks, to optimize resource allocation and operational workflows. This capability not only enhances productivity but also minimizes downtime. The integration of AI algorithms enables predictive maintenance, allowing operators to anticipate equipment failures before they occur, thus reducing costly interruptions. This proactive approach to predictive maintenance in mining operations is essential for maintaining high levels of productivity.
The Digital Twin Black Box, a key component of the CDM, exemplifies Nokia’s innovative approach. This ruggedized, IP67-rated wireless router is built from the ground up for mining. It features a 150 TOPS embedded GPU for on-device AI/ML, enabling real-time insights such as predictive maintenance, network optimization, and anomaly detection. For connectivity, powered by Nokia Bell Labs technology, it integrates dual LTE/5G modems, triple Wi-Fi radios, and AI-driven antenna selection, ensuring robust, self-healing connectivity. It also includes high-frequency sensors, 12 Ethernet ports, PoE, and an internal battery for uninterrupted operation.
Its local compute capabilities eliminate reliance on constant uplink/downlink traffic for analytics, easing network load. The Black Box can perform real-time video compression (RXRM, for example), fatigue detection, and other advanced analytics entirely on-device — without external edge servers.
This proactive, autonomous architecture enhances operational efficiency and significantly improves safety by automating manual tasks and reducing equipment-related incidents.
The CDM platform was presented at the Bell Labs Centennial as a key demonstration of the Bell Labs mindset of challenging the status quo.
Strategic partnerships driving mining innovation
Nokia’s collaboration with Vale stemming from their long-standing relationship has fostered an environment of innovation, enabling both companies to leverage their strengths to enhance mining operations. Vale, as one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore and nickel, brings extensive industry knowledge and operational expertise, while Nokia contributes cutting-edge technology and research capabilities.
The cognitive monitoring network service being developed through this partnership aims to optimize performance, reliability, and safety by utilizing data from various mine production systems. For example, by integrating data from autonomous drillers and hauling trucks with connectivity KPIs, the service can provide insights that lead to more efficient operations. This holistic approach ensures that all aspects of the mining process are interconnected, allowing for real-time adjustments and improvements.
The collaboration also aims to break down silos between IT and OT systems, enabling seamless data flow and enhanced AI model performance. This integration is crucial in a complex environment like mining, where multiple stakeholders and technologies must work together efficiently. By fostering such collaboration, Nokia and Vale are setting a precedent for future partnerships within the mining industry, demonstrating how shared expertise can lead to significant advancements in operational efficiency and safety.
A vision for the future of mining with smart solutions
Nokia’s award-winning CDM signifies a pivotal shift towards more intelligent and efficient mining operations. The company’s commitment to developing self-deploying networks and cognitive services positions it at the forefront of industry innovation. The vision for the mine of the future includes not only enhanced productivity and reliability, but also a strong emphasis on worker safety.
The proof-of-concept deployment of the Cognitive Digital Mine at Vale’s Carajás mine illustrates the potential impact of these technologies. As the largest iron ore open-pit mine in the world, Carajás serves as an ideal testing ground for Nokia’s innovations. The early results from the CDM implementation indicate substantial improvements in both productivity and safety metrics, showcasing the practical benefits of cognitive technologies in real-world applications.
Furthermore, Nokia’s focus on creating a holistic digital twin for connected operations is a game-changer for the mining industry. This digital twin not only simulates the physical environment of the mine, but also allows for predictive analytics that can inform decision-making processes. By continuously collecting and analyzing data, the digital twin can provide insights that lead to more informed strategies for resource management, operational planning, and risk mitigation.
“Receiving the Mining Technology R&D Excellence Award from GlobalData is a tremendous honor and a powerful reflection of the journey we’ve taken—rooted in the Nokia Bell Labs mindset of never being afraid to challenge the status quo. This award represents more than innovation; it symbolizes the courage to step out of the lab, get our boots dirty in the field, and rethink how mining can operate in the age of AI and advanced connectivity. It’s a tribute to the teams who dared to ask “what if?” and turned bold ideas into real-world impact—making mining safer and more productive.”
– Lelio Di Martino, General Manager, CDM, Nokia
Company Profile
Nokia creates technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, Nokia is pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, they create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, their high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today – and work with them to create the digital services and applications of the future.
Contact Details
Lelio Di Martino, General Manager, Cognitive Digital Mine
Tel: +5511959202769
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