The MST Vehicle Intelligence Platform (VIP) has undergone several improvements over the last few months. New features include: Support for more vehicle diagnostic protocols; fast Wi-Fi roaming between access points to support autonomous mining applications; integration with Strata HazardAvert provides for Strata event logging and reporting (Australian market only) and new PC-based diagnostics tool for easier deployment of VIP protocol decoding. The VIP provides 4 functions:

Mobile Wi-Fi Bridge – In this mode the VIP provides transparent Ethernet to Wi-Fi bridge functionality, supporting high throughput and fast roaming on the wireless network. The Wi-Fi bridge allows vehicle OEMs and third party integrators to deploy network-enabled mobile applications, including 2-way control, monitoring and data communications.  

Protocol Decoder – The VIP is able to interface to various vehicle bus standards and can interpret messages from a number of vehicle communications protocols, including CAT EAM, CAT VIMS, SAE J1939, SAE J1578 and Modbus.  

Store and Forward Data Logger – As the VIP-enabled vehicles operate in the mine, there may be times when the vehicle leaves the Wi-Fi coverage area. Under these conditions the Store and Forward functionality of the VIP will ensure that all data is time-stamped and logged to non-volatile memory. When the vehicle returns to the coverage area, the VIP will atomically upload all logged data to the ICA database, ensuring that no data is lost.  

Proximity Detection – The VIP is the control unit for the MST Proximity Detection solution. Its functions in this solution are:

• Outer Zone Wi-Fi proximity tag reader and tag-bearer name lookup
• Strata Inner Zone state reader (Australian market only)
• In-vehicle proximity event alerts display and alarm unit Machine tag self-check.