Rajant Kinetic Mesh Networks for Critical Communications

As the need for mobile assets to access high-capacity network services evolves beyond the mining sector, first responders, construction and utilities operators are looking for a dynamic Vehicle as a Node solution that can scale and provide the bandwidth required for critical communications and an increasing number of interconnected devices such as drones, droids and cameras.

Firmly established within the mining sector, Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh Technology can address this growing list of requirements from all of these sectors. A true peer to peer, autonomous network, Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh Technology offers a mobility solution that can scale as required and can offer a single connectivity platform for all of today’s IoT and IIoT devices.

Starlink’s mobility services have provided a path for mobile assets to shake off the restraints of fixed infrastructure and transform vehicles into network nodes. Integrating Starlink, Peplink, and Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh networks offers operators access to high-capacity network access that scales and evolves around operations in real time, ensuring critical communications are always on in any scenario.

Rajant Kinetic Mesh: A Revolutionary Approach

Rajant’s patented Instamesh is a decentralized peer to peer mesh networking protocol developed specifically to tackle the needs of mobile assets. Unlike traditional networking solutions, Instamesh offers a number of key features:

1. Multi Frequency: Each node can operate on two or more frequencies simultaneously, dependent on product selection, allowing data to be directed across either channel to any of the interconnected mesh nodes, eliminating single points of failure.
2. Peer-to-Peer Connectivity: The network operates on a peer-to-peer (P2P) model, allowing users to share network information and other resources without the need for a central server. This reduces bottlenecks as devices attempt connect to the network management platform for network updates and single points of failure, making the network more resilient. One of the standout features of Kinetic Mesh is its ability to automatically reroute data through alternative mesh nodes in case of a failure or obstruction. This ensures minimal downtime and continuous data flow — crucial for maintaining critical communications in operations change in real time.
3. Autonomous Operation: Instamesh networks are designed to operate autonomously, meaning the network can self-organize, self-heal, and self-optimize without requiring constant oversight or a centralised management platform.
4. Scalability: Instamesh is designed to be highly scalable. The system can grow as vehicles attending an operations site join the network automatically, increasing network resiliency by offering more network paths. When a node leaves the network, Instamesh adjusts the network and continuous to operate with network management in real time, preventing loss of comms.
5. Wide Coverage Area: Kinetic Mesh can cover vast areas efficiently, making it an ideal solution for a remote operation that may be too far from traditional cellular networks and fixed infrastructure.
6. Dynamic Topology: Unlike LTE networks, which require static infrastructure, Rajant's mesh network is decentralised and adapts dynamically to changes in the environment. This allows for easy addition and movement of equipment, particularly beneficial in changing operational environments or where infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Each of these critical functions is unique to Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh Nodes and is achieved through Instamesh, the Rajant patented networking protocol. In addition to providing this Instamesh functionality, each node also provides configurable WiFi access point options to provide connectivity for COTs devices that require network access.

Mobile Assets, Mobile Nodes

Using vehicles as nodes in a communication network creates a resilient, mobile communications network capable of maintaining comms regardless of geographical and operational challenges and without the need for reliance on fixed infrastructure. Vehicles — ranging from delivery trucks to emergency services and public transport — can serve as mobile hotspots that provide connectivity to other devices and vehicles in their vicinity. Starlink and Peplink technologies combined with Rajant Kinetic Mesh Networks provide functionality in three key areas to deliver a VaaN solution:

1. Starlink Mobility:
   Vehicles fitted with Starlink terminals can access internet services almost anywhere, allowing them to serve as high capacity backhaul without the need for traditional infrastructure.
2. Seamless Aggregation with Peplink:
   By integrating Peplink’s Speedfusion technology, multiple broadband sources (cellular, satellite, etc) can be aggregated, ensuring network resilience. This is vital for vehicles that roam between urban and rural environments where terrestrial connectivity can fluctuate. The ability to bond these connections results in uninterrupted service and high availability for critical communications.
3. Dynamic Routing with Rajant:
   Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh network means that vehicles can communicate with each other in real time, dynamically routing data by alternative frequency or peer as conditions change. If one vehicle’s connection drops, the network will automatically reroute data through another nearby vehicle or drone, maintaining connectivity without interruption; the mesh ensures comms are always on for every vehicle in the network.
   
   The use of Peplink SDWAN connections allows Rajant’s nodes to establish secure connections from remote mesh networks to a data centre or operations facility. This allows the network to continuously change and for mobile assets to mesh and uncouple in real time while the network gateway remains static with the command centre.

Antennas — The Critical Component

Mobile assets used by mining, emergency services and oil and gas operate in the harshest conditions across constantly varying terrain, but the world isn’t flat and signal loss due to RF propagation can mean the difference between critical communications operating or failing.

Selecting the right antenna for critical communications systems is vital to ensure availability. MP Antenna is the exclusive manufacturer of patented, multi-polarized antenna solutions. Their antennas help reduce multipath interference and improve signal transmission across challenging terrain, making any network more resilient and stable. By using compact RF elements with built-in spatial diversity, both end users and integrators can expect improved performance in difficult RF environments. Selecting these antennas to enhance link strength in dynamic deployments leads to greater overall network reliability for critical communications and forms a vital component in a Vehicle as a Node solution.

Kinetic Mesh Experts

RSN Solutions are Rajant Kinetic Mesh Premium Partners and have a team of network and RF engineers who solve the unique network and communications problems presented by mobile assets in resource sectors and emergency services. Our fully managed Starlink Services provide clients with visibility and control of their Starlink Services, while our 24/7 Customer Support Portal provides access to support engineers for service delivery support.

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