The Chinese translation is being made; the original is shown for now.
A remotely operated loader transmits multiple camera feeds while receiving steering and loading commands.
Autonomous haulage systems (AHS) exchange heartbeat messages, position updates, and dispatch instructions as trucks move between wireless coverage zones. These applications, alongside remote drilling and mobile inspection, rely on sufficient throughput and low latency throughout movement, including access point transitions.
A handover gap can delay video and command traffic together. Operators may lose current visual feedback, while AHS vehicles may enter a protective stop if communication exceeds their configured timeout. Roaming, according to Colterlec, therefore plays a key role in maintaining responsive remote operation and dependable autonomous haulage.
Coverage overlap allows a moving client to reach the next access point before the current signal becomes unusable. However, according to Colterlec, it does not determine when roaming begins or how long the transition takes.
Colterlec said roaming too late keeps the client on a weakening link, increasing retransmissions and delaying both video and control traffic. Roaming too early can cause repeated switching between neighbouring access points. Colterlec said coverage overlap must therefore be paired with well-tuned roaming thresholds.
Even a well-timed switch can interrupt transmission. Traditional break-before-make handover releases the current connection before completing the next, introducing a transmission gap. Effective roaming must address both switching timing and handover continuity, according to Colterlec.
Preparing the connection before disconnection
A connect-before-break approach prepares the next connection while the current link remains active, reducing interruption as traffic transfers between access points. Colterlec said this helps limit pauses in teleoperation video and command delivery while maintaining more consistent AHS heartbeat and telemetry exchanges.
Moxa’s next-generation Turbo Roaming combines this approach with intelligence in the wireless client. The client manages roaming decisions and key negotiation independently, without requiring a central wireless local area network [WLAN] controller for handover.
The advantages of client-based roaming
Locating roaming intelligence on moving equipment allows decisions to use the connection conditions experienced by that client, according to Colterlec.
Configurable thresholds let engineers tune transitions to vehicle routes and coverage geometry, reducing the risk of remaining on a deteriorating link.
Independent client operation reduces reliance on centralised coordination. Colterlec said eliminating a dedicated roaming controller simplifies deployment and avoids an additional controller dependency, while reliable access points and backhaul remain essential.
Moxa’s AP-agnostic implementation also enables compatibility with third-party access points. Engineers can upgrade mobile roaming while retaining suitable infrastructure, providing flexibility for staged improvements and expansion.
Advancing roaming performance
Colterlec said next-generation Turbo Roaming reduces the roaming recovery specification from below 150 milliseconds to below 50 milliseconds with WPA3 enabled. Multiple RF band support expands deployment options beyond the previous single-band generation.
Combined with Wi-Fi 6/7 capacity, these improvements accommodate concurrent video and sensor streams while limiting handover gaps and retaining authenticated, encrypted access. Performance should be validated under representative traffic loads and RF conditions.
Validating roaming before deployment
During a proof of concept (PoC), Colterlec said engineers need to verify how roaming performs under the proposed network design. Moxa’s Turbo Roaming Analyzer traces and analyses the roaming process of AWK Series devices, helping engineers validate system design, optimise roaming parameters, and identify coverage gaps. This provides a practical basis for evaluating performance and troubleshooting before rollout.
Moxa’s Wi-Fi Deployment Service complements the tool with expert assistance in verifying wireless design and tuning coverage, RF, and configuration. Together, Colterlec said the tool and service help operators resolve deployment issues earlier, accelerate implementation, and achieve more consistent roaming performance.
Once the network is deployed, Colterlec said ongoing visibility into wireless connections and roaming behaviour helps engineers maintain performance and troubleshoot issues as operating conditions change.
Making roaming visible
Intermittent roaming problems can be difficult to reproduce after equipment leaves the affected location. The Wireless add-on module for Moxa’s MXview One network management software provides dynamic wireless topology, link status, and roaming playback. Engineers can review roaming history and connection changes to investigate interruptions, assess transition behavior, and target coverage or configuration checks, helping improving maintenance and troubleshooting efficiency.
Connecting faster roaming with mining operations
For AHS, remotely operated loaders and drills, and inspection robots, roaming helps sustain timely feedback and dependable command delivery during movement.
Moxa combines client-based roaming, faster handover, secure Wi-Fi transmission, and roaming visibility to address both application performance and ongoing network management. Together, Colterlec said these capabilities help reduce communication-related protective stops, limit remote-control disruptions, and maintain monitoring data flows across critical mining applications.
For more information, visit Colterlec.