Connecting a New Generation of Moving Assets with Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul

What traits does a wireless network need to connect moving assets? Answer: it depends on the stakes. Occasional lapses in connectivity and a little latency might be okay if you’re catching up on email while riding a bus, but not if you’re remotely controlling a 100,000-pound bulldozer on a steep dam slope. That’s why Aterpa, a Brazilian engineering company hired to decommission Brazil’s tailings dams, uses Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB) to remotely control heavy equipment like bulldozers and excavators.

Remote control of unmanned systems can’t tolerate network latency

Following dam collapses in 2015 and 2019, large mining companies committed to preventing future catastrophes by launching programs to decommission tailings dams (tailings are mud-like byproducts of ore mining) built using the same construction methods as the failed ones. It’s dangerous work because heavy machinery needs to move across unstable ground, and missteps can lead to accidents. “Dam decharacterization, or decommissioning, is a relatively new field,” explains Rodrigo Campos, contract manager at Aterpa. “You need to remove the tailings in the dam, but you can’t allow people to enter because of the safety issues.”

To safely decommission dams in the Brazilian state of Minas Garais, Aterpa decided to use unmanned systems. The plan: operators working in a central command center would view real-time camera feeds and sensor data from heavy equipment like excavators to remotely control those systems over the network. The tricky part was setting up a wireless outdoor network with the necessary reliability, low latency, and seamless handoffs. Existing mesh solutions and even the latest Wi-Fi versions aren’t designed for these demands as minimal jitter and latency can impact operations. If a video feed is delayed by even half a second, for example, an operator might not see an obstacle in time to maneuver around it or brake, possibly sending the equipment toppling down the dam slope.

Ultra-reliable wireless for moving equipment

Aterpa found its answer in Cisco URWB, which provides the ultra-low latency (<10ms), seamless handoffs, and uninterrupted connectivity needed to remotely control moving assets in high-stakes environments. “In our operations center we’ve recreated the experience of a conventional vehicle cab, complete with a steering wheel and controls,” says Campos. Operators see what they’d see if they were sitting in the physical cab on the slope, allowing them to safely steer equipment and remove tailings. “With Cisco URWB, when the remote operator issues a command, the equipment responds instantly,” Campos adds.

Between September 2022 and April 2025, Aterpa removed approximately 1.7 million cubic meters (2.22 million cubic feet) of waste with teleremote operations over Cisco URWB. The communities near the dams are no longer threatened. Operators are safer and the environment is cleaner. “After almost three years of unmanned operation over Cisco URWB, we’ve seen that when the network is reliable, the operation is reliable,” says Campos. “Our operating model has become a benchmark for the industry.”

Three ways Cisco URWB stands apart

What set Cisco URWB apart from other wireless technologies for high-stakes operations like this one? First, URWB delivers near-zero (<10ms) latency. Second, when a connected system—say, an excavator, robot, or train—roams between access points, the connection doesn’t break until the next connection is established. We call that “make-before-break” connectivity. Finally, URWB sends duplicate copies of packets (like sensor data from moving assets and commands from operators) over up to eight redundant paths.

Learn more

Find us in the World of Solutions at Cisco Live to see URWB in action and register to the PSOIOT-1020 session.

Read about Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul.

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