SK Telecom is pushing for a project in detecting explosives that will utilize IoT network such as LoRa and LTE-M and ultra-high sensitive sensing technology that is developed by a small and medium company.
SK Telecom made an announcement on the 16th that it will be providing a service that will detect explosives (combustibles) along with PNL (CEO Park Kwon-hwan), which is a business that specializes in pico-sensing. Its goal is not to just detect explosives that are used in terror attacks but to also detect molecules of combustibles such as gas and oil and carcinogens and send them to IoT network. It is currently suggesting its project to Sejong Government Complex, South Korean airports and others with a goal of starting this project in October.
PNL has developed a sensing technology, which is based on nano-sensor material technology that can detect down to picogram level (10-12). It can detect down to one-trillionth level of molecule within air through non-contact-type air intake method. It has overcome limitations in detection capabilities of contact-type or x-ray-type devices and increased its ability of differentiation up to 99.6%.
On the other hand, SK Telecom will provide IoT technology. It will use LTE-M and LoRa that were developed in March and June respectively depending on situations. LoRa and LTE-M will be used in fields that need real-time detection and fields that need fast transmission and reception and large data respectively.
Pico-sensing technology and IoT technology have improved effect of detecting explosives or combustibles by one step higher. They send results of detection, which takes place more than 10 times per second, to central control room or managers through mobile network. Information that is not understood by people who look for explosives or combustibles is analyzed automatically by a system.
Beside of preventing terror attacks, they can also be used for tasks that need continuous detection of gas leakage. Unmanned operation is also possible in areas where there are high possibilities of combustible leakages.
Current sensors that manage explosives and combustibles have difficult times in checking whether or not corresponding equipment is operating properly. Also there were many instances when they did not know that problems actually had occurred. This kind of problems is solved as real-time duplex telecommunication is possible through IoT.
“Although many abilities are improved as IoT network and pico-sensing technology are combined, greatest strength of this service is that it will not require any manpower.” said CEO Park Kwon-hwan of PNL. “While manpower was needed in most areas that needed to detect something until now, effectiveness of detection has increased as operation is now possible from afar.”
SK Telecom has been working with PNL since a year ago. As catastrophes such as terrors have become major issues internationally, they have been thinking about solutions that can prevent such with IoT and sensors. They also thought about a method that will increase effect of preventing catastrophes by linking national catastrophic safety telecommunication network with PNL’s sensors.
“Effects of detecting explosives and accuracy are higher when using LoRa and LTE-M.” said a representative for SK Telecom. “When sensing technologies become more advanced, range of usage will be wider as they can be used to detect and prevent expansion of pathogenic bacterium.”
Staff Reporter An, Hocheon | hcan@etnews.com
