5G-SOLUTIONS: Remotely controlling digital factories

Overview of the 5G-SOLUTIONS Trial on the Remote Control of Factories

Public wireless access network also plays a role in End-2-End communications between remote workers and the factory. The simplest set-up of this use case involves remote control applications running on tablets or smart phones for example. However, in view of the trend of new AR devices, it is likely that new remote services may arise that facilitate the creation of virtual back office teams. Such remote teams may use the data coming from smart devices for preventive analytics and easy access to work instructions, whereby, they would be able to view the camera or iPad/Google Glass of a local worker. Additionally, the application of AR in the plant will facilitate:

• Augmented-reality support in production and assembly: Precisely positioned picture-in picture fade-ins, showing the operator the next step and helping to avoid misplacement and unnecessary scrap.

• Augmented-reality support in maintenance and repair: Repair machines without training due to augmentedinformation and operational guidance.

Cross-functional communication, effective knowledge sharing and collaborative design platforms will be facilitated by solutions for communities of practice. In this use case family, there is a less stringent need for low latency. Interaction times up to seconds are acceptable for remote servicing machines. However, high availability is key for allowing (emergency) maintenance actions to occur immediately. Bandwidth is important for video controlled maintenance, with real-time augmented content mixed into the video signal. Moreover, latency is particularly important for real-time, remote motion control of local robots. Edge computing within the network is required for fulfilling the low latency requirements. Security threats are introduced due to the opening up of the machines to allow remote reconfiguration. As such, the cyber-representation of a factory or supply chain needs to be protected, with mission-critical actions being shielded from non-authorised parties.

Use Case Data Summary

Locations: Trondheim

Dates: Q3-2020 Q2-2022

Partners involved: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Telenor, YARA

Funding reference: H2020-ICT-2018-3; ICT-19-2019 - Advanced 5G validation trials across multiple vertical industries.

Funding cycle:  June 2019-November 2022.

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