Industrial end-devices like automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are being used on 5G networks. Indeed, the mobility management, coverage, and quality of service assurance of 5G networks provides the reliable communication needed for numerous types of automated guided vehicles. These AGVs include tractors, pallet movers and forklifts. For example, 5G can help forklifts more efficiently move around the factory floor, in an automated manner.
5G plays a major role in connecting production line robotics by providing:
Ericsson is using its expertise in networking and equipment to help manufacturing enterprises leverage new use cases that are enabled by 5G technology and shift their business to Industry 4.0. Globally, there are 10 million industrial & manufacturing sites and 3 million warehouses that require connectivity where the latency, speeds, and reliability achieved with 5G technology is necessary.
Additionally, 94% of the industrial devices within these manufacturing facilities are wired and expensively retrofitted on equipment. In turn, these wired connections do not allow for the optimal use of data to improve manufacturing processes and automation. By combining manufacturing with 5G technology, Ericsson is enabling what is known as Industry 4.0, whereby traditional manufacturing and industrial processes are automated.
Broadly, Ericsson identifies four distinct types of manufacturing use cases for which 5G can provide services. Specifically, these functions include:
The 5G network can provide real-time, flexible routing of electricity flows, depending on generation and consumption levels in different parts of the electrical grid.
Oil wells equipped with Internet of Things sensors, that connect to the 5G network, have the ability to send and receive data in real-time. This real-time sensor data from the oil wells can identify signals in the data to predict when the wells fall outside of the optimum production ranges.
Smart cities is a broad industry category for 5G use cases, within this is surveillance. Surveillance cameras, including body-worn cameras, can transmit real-time Ultra-High-Definition and 360-degree video streams, over the 5G network. Specifically, these video streams can be sent to a control room that monitors busy public places and critical infrastructure.
Thousands of Internet of Things sensors, that connect to the 5G network, can be placed across major infrastructure, such as bridges. In turn, these sensors constantly monitor the vibrations caused by vehicles and trains that cross those bridges every day. Vibrations detected that are deemed abnormal, could be the first sign that part of the bridge is not performing as it should, and an inspection crew would be dispatched.
Edge compute allows application developers and enterprises to enable large-scale, latency-sensitive use cases at the edge. Two important examples of these initial edge compute use cases include autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things.
Edge compute delivers computing resources closer to where the needs are. Instead of housing these critical resources in a large cloud data center that could be hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away from where the data will ultimately be delivered, this new architecture puts it all at the edge of the network. In turn, edge compute is propelling the growth of autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things.
Autonomous driving can be classified into six different levels, from traditional vehicles being Level 0 to fully autonomous vehicles being Level 5. Additionally, within this classification, Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) start at Level 1 and extend to Level 4. ADAS offers semi-autonomous features to the vehicle and is the first step towards fully autonomous vehicles.
At present, vehicles are not fully autonomous. However, as vehicles increasingly shift from Level 1 to Level 5 autonomy, more decision-making capability will be given to the vehicle. In turn, the data consumed by the vehicle will increase, as the level of autonomy increases, because it has to make more decisions. Specifically, Level 1 vehicles consume 3 gigabytes per hour, whereas Level 5 vehicles consume 50 gigabytes per hour. Indeed, Level 5 vehicles consume almost 17 times more data than Level 1 vehicles.
Examples of the data consumption by autonomous vehicles includes i) analyzing traffic patterns, ii) observing road conditions and iii) helping the driver make decisions. For example, Cruise, which is majority-owned by General Motors is producing very sophisticated autonomous vehicles. Furthermore, Cruise plans to begin testing these vehicles in San Francisco in late 2020.
In effect, autonomous vehicles are driving computers, functioning like a mini-data center. Autonomous vehicles are constantly aggregating, creating, sending, and receiving data. Numerous applications run on a vehicle and thus, significant Internet of Things information is being sent from a diagnostics perspective.
Telemedicine is remote doctor-patient consultation through a mobile device. This 5G use case moves simple consultations to be over the internet, through video calls. Indeed, these video calls will often take place over the 5G network.
Wearable devices allow for users to monitor, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases. Devices like the Apple Watch and Fitbit will be increasingly connected to the 5G network. By being connected, these devices can collect and analyze broader sets of data about the user. In turn, this allows healthcare to shift from being treatment-based to precautionary.
The emerging technologies of 5G have the potential to fundamentally alter the role of wireless networks. 5G networks can increase connectivity from 300+ million people in the United States to connect billions of devices in the future. Therefore, as 5G develops and wireless networks expand from connecting everyone, to connecting everything, new use cases will develop. This will generate significant long-term demand for Crown Castle’s infrastructure, with towers remaining at the core of the wireless networks.
Over the last 20 years, there have been significant advances in the broader wireless industry. These advances include the rapid deployment of technology that has meaningfully moved the industry. For example, mobile penetration rates and voice minutes were tracked in 1G technology. Moving to 4G standards, where measurements are taken using unlimited data plans that feed an insatiable demand for data from consumers.
With the deployment of 5G during 2020, the industry is in the early stages of what is the next decade-long investment cycle. 5G will bring a step function change in the role that wireless networks play in supporting the digital economy going forward.
The signal strength in 5G, facilitates greater mobility, allowing data to be transmitted to a device that is travelling at 500 kilometers (310 miles) per hour. Therefore, 5G allows data transmission in use cases such as high-speed trains and autonomous drones, disrupting these industries. Often, these trains and drones will be travelling at speeds of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) per hour.
Train sensors can identify empty cabins and send information back to the train platform, over the 5G network. In turn, this information can direct passengers to cabins which have capacity.
