Page 59 - SAMENA Trends - September 2023

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Researchers Confirm Possibility of Wireless Communication 40m

Underground by National Research Council of Science & Technology

South Korean researchers have made
a discovery that enables wireless
communication below the Earth's surface,
a significant departure from their traditional
focus on terrestrial communication
systems. This development opens new
avenues for confirming the survival of
individuals trapped due to accidents such
as mine collapses during rescue operations.
The Electronics and Telecommunications
Research Institute (ETRI) announced that
they have successfully developed the
world's first "Subterranean Magnetic Field
Communication Core Technology." Utilizing
a transmitting antenna with a diameter of
1 meter and a receiving antenna of several
centimeters, the institute managed to send
and receive voice signal-level capacity up
to 40 meters below the Earth's surface in
a mine. Conventional wisdom held that
wireless communication in the complex
underground environments of mines
was virtually impossible due to signal and receiving devices underground are meters between various levels. This
attenuation. However, ETRI overcame installed, individuals awaiting rescue could successful application of magnetic
these obstacles by developing a new communicate through personal devices field communication promises to bring
communication system that leverages the like mobile phones, connected to these substantial changes to the underground
unique boundary conditions of magnetic antennas. The successful communication mining industry. Notably, this technology
fields within the medium. The result is a test was conducted over a distance of is expected to offer a reliable mode of
successful transmission of voice data- 40 meters inside a mine composed of communication during emergencies such
level capacity in a mine where stable limestone bedrock. The team explained as mine collapses, underground fires, and
communication was previously unfeasible. that they used a very narrow low-frequency other disaster scenarios that typically
The research team miniaturized the size band of 20kHz, rather than the MHz or GHz disrupt conventional communication
of their transmitting antenna to 1 meter, range commonly used in general wireless systems. ETRI emphasized that magnetic
contrasting with the tens-of-meters scale communication. This frequency band was field communication systems would
antennas used in previous international chosen to minimize material loss in the maintain connections between miners
research. The system also features small subterranean or underwater environment, and rescue teams during accidents,
receiving sensors based on magnetic and to suit the size of the antennas. The thereby facilitating better-coordinated
induction, with dimensions in the order of data transmission rate for voice signals rescue efforts. The technology is also
centimeters. According to the researchers, was maintained at around 4kbps, sufficient seen as a means to reduce response
the newly developed transmitting and for basic two-way communication. In the time in emergencies and to enhance
receiving antennas function akin to an labyrinthine darkness of underground safety measures. Additionally, Last year,
Access Point (AP), essentially serving as mines, which bear a resemblance to the they successfully executed underwater
a base station linking the surface and the complexity of an ant colony, researchers communications up to a depth of 40
underground. Therefore, it is expected that have demonstrated the ability to transmit meters in freshwater regions such as rivers
once transmitting devices on the surface data directly over a distance of 40 and streams.

59 SEPTEMBER 2023