JET Engineering and the National Physical Laboratory – Improving 5G at sea

Author: Andy Crouch

Andy Crouch from JET Engineering describes the challenges in deploying and managing a 5G network at sea and how they’re hoping to overcome some of these hurdles by working closely with the National Physical Laboratory.

 

Contracted by the DCMS funded 5G RuralDorset project to deploy a network of our 5G Surf Condition Monitoring System (SMCS) buoys along the Dorset coastline in Q1 2021, our R&D team at Jet Engineering System Solutions has been working with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), as part of their ‘Measurement for Recovery’ (M4R)  programme, to optimise this IoT enabling marinised 5G capability.

The launch is scheduled for later this month, meaning these will be the first operationally deployed 5G data buoys in the UK. This is an exciting milestone for anybody involved with data-heavy technology applications and operations at sea. These particular buoys will measure in-shore wave height and currents for water safety monitoring and report them to multiple end-users, including the general public and emergency services.

This is part of JET’s rapid development path to a full 5G mesh communications network capability that will be deployable in any maritime environment and will deliver high bandwidth connectivity to multiple platforms running an array of sensors. This capability is critical to enabling Industry 4.0 and IoT systems to operate at sea (and in other remote locations) that will benefit multiple industries including green shipping, renewable energy generation, safety, security, and recreation.

However, the maritime environment is operationally complex for any technology, and there are two key challenges to the use of 5G communications at sea. The first is the effect of sea state negatively impacting 5G performance, the second is how to optimise use of the limited amount of electric power self-generated by 5G connected platforms that are deployed remotely and for extended durations.

NPL are providing world-leading technical support to help accurately define and provide improved solutions to help mitigate both challenges, including identifying the most suitable smart antenna solutions to ensure reliable 5G data link at maximum range.

David Humphreys PhD, CEng, FIET, Principal Research Scientist at NPL, said, “We are continuing to work with JET and support British Industry to make a world-beating 5G product that will make beaches safer in the UK and worldwide.”

James Thomas, JET CEO, said, “As a business we are immensely grateful for the chance to work with NPL. Their assistance has helped us understand the options that will rapidly develop our product family and help us continue to grow our business rapidly and agilely.”

Here at JET, we genuinely believe that our objectives of delivering a step-change capability for 5G high bandwidth comms at sea will ultimately benefit everybody, in terms of improved safety, security, environmental protection, and genuine sustainability.