Ordos launches industrial internet platform, empowering regional intelligent transformation

Ordos plays a significant role in China's energy sector. It is one of China’s biggest coal and electricity bases and runs the country’s largest new-energy power generation project. At present, Ordos has over 300 registered coal mines. In 2023, its coal production surpassed 800 million tons, making up almost 20% of China's total. Ordos is also home to many industrial parks and over 600 companies generating annual revenue of more than 20 million CNY (2.75 million USD). This diverse business landscape and modern industry system create fertile ground for industrial internet applications.

The Ordos Industrial Internet Platform was launched at the Ordos Industrial Internet Developers Conference on January 20, 2024. With a large AI model and an industrial app store at its core, this platform is also Inner Mongolia's first industrial internet platform based on a large AI model.

Initiated by the Ordos municipal government, the Ordos Industrial Internet Platform was developed by Ordos City Digital Economy Development Investment Co., Ltd. It is centered on the MineHarmony operating system and AI, and aims to bring together AI computing power, industrial large models, AI algorithm models, application development platforms, and IoT technologies to create a comprehensive industry platform that covers production, training, research, and application.

The platform's main hub consists of an AI infrastructure, a data enablement platform, a large AI model for mines and chemical engineering, an application development platform, an app store, and an operation support platform. On the platform, users can train AI models, develop applications, manage model application delivery, and support edge deployment and services. Furthermore, partners can launch, order, and trade products based on the platform portal. They can also showcase their products and solutions online through platform advertisements and digital exhibition halls.

The lightweight platform for enterprises is deployed at the edge. The central platform delivers and deploys AI services for model inference and running applications. During operation, any abnormal samples can be sent to the central platform. The model can then be optimized through iterative updates based on the learning-while-using mode, improving inference at the edge.

By utilizing unified underlying data standards and specifications, the system of central training, edge inference, and cloud-edge collaboration can effectively enable the industrial production of AI applications. This will ultimately lead to the creation of an intelligent decision-making support system driven by data and AI, accelerating the development of industrial intelligence.

The IoT operating system is crucial for building the industrial internet and serves as the foundation for making mine devices smart. The MineHarmony IoT operating system is the first to support a variety of coal mine devices, thanks to technologies like the unique soft bus and unified Mine Device Transfer Protocol (MDTP). By utilizing unified standards, architecture, and data specifications, the operating system effectively removes barriers between vendors and enables interconnection between devices. The goal is to assist coal enterprises in achieving intelligent sensing, intelligent decision-making, and automatic execution to gradually automate coal mining, transportation, and management, ultimately leading to unmanned production.

In April 2023, the Key Laboratory of MineHarmony Innovation was established in Ordos. In 2024, Ordos plans to establish a software and hardware industrial park to support the development of MineHarmony in terms of equipment, adaptation, application, and innovation. This will encourage the gathering of talent and ecosystem development in the technology sector of Ordos, leading to high-quality development within both digital and traditional industries.

Now, 18 AI partners, 16 MineHarmony partners, and 10 mining companies in China have signed agreements to join the platform. The platform's unique “factory-behind-the-store” model facilitates the integration of development and operations, allowing for platform-based innovation, R&D achievement conversion, and business value realization. Essentially, industry applications developed in the back-end factory can be accessed through the front-end portal, benefiting all industry chain partners and effectively addressing the challenges of workshop-based AI development. This includes high barriers to entry and lengthy development periods, which hinder the widespread adoption of AI.

The use of digital technologies is set to revolutionize industries, and the Ordos Industrial Internet Platform is leading the way. By the end of this year, the platform aims to connect 68 intelligent mines, with plans to expand to 160 by 2025. This will make it possible to implement intelligent coal production, while also creating a smart bridge that connects mine production with ecosystem partners. Furthermore, the Ordos Industrial Internet Platform will expand beyond the mining industry and into other sectors. It will be utilized to explore new avenues for industry development, such as chemical engineering, cashmere, and smart manufacturing of new energy. This will serve as a catalyst for regional industrial transformation and help Ordos develop its digital economy.