Oil and gas companies are employing cutting-edge technologies to provide safer and more efficient operations on oil rigs and in other rugged environments. Ericsson outlined the private 5G connected solution known as the “Connected Worker” in a recent blog, discussing how wearables have become a “must have” to help workers operate in a hands-free environment, connect to outside expertise, reduce downtime and costs, and be alerted to unsafe conditions.
Connected Workers are provided by Ericsson’s partners RealWear and Pepperl+Fuchs. Ericsson says the devices can help oil and gas industrial workers with “predictive maintenance, autonomous operations, and overall enhanced productivity.”
The ecosystem the Connected Workers operate on is called Industry 4.0, which delivers cellular devices and integration, industry-specific software and applications, and business advisory. The devices are powered indoors and outdoors by a private 5G network – reliable, secure, and high-capacity connectivity.
An example of RealWear’s solution is an assisted reality wearable device with a 16×9 display floating just below a worker’s eyeline. The solution allows workers to access visual information and essential documents, enabling them to “go paperless,” while voice controls grant a hands-free experience. According to RealWear, connected helmets have been shown to provide 33 percent faster maintenance, 89 percent faster audits, and a 70 percent increase in safety compliance.
One critical safety feature of the Connected Worker is the accelerometer that can detect if a person “goes down,” ensuring an injured worker gets help quickly based on their position in the 5G network. The connected devices can also sense danger via geofencing capabilities, altering the wearer upon entering a hazardous environment.
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