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Hitachi tests 5G powered industrial IoT solutions at its silicon valley research center in California

Michele Catinari — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 16:00:07 +0000

To accelerate the development of platform technologies and scalable solutions for digital transformation in multiple industries

Hitachi, Ltd. announced that a dedicated 5G network has been installed at its Silicon Valley Research Center, part of the Research & Development Division of Hitachi America, Ltd. (“Hitachi America”) in partnership with Ericsson. The network will leverage 5G and Hitachi’s platform technology to accelerate the development and demonstrate the value of digital transformation across industries.

Fifth-generation wireless network technology, commonly referred to as “5G technology,” is expected to drastically change the way society operates by providing ubiquitous connectivity with ultra-reliable low-latency communication. 5G has the power to accelerate the digital transformation of not just the telecom sector, but businesses across industries. Sectors that will benefit from the increased resiliency and efficiency that 5G technology affords include manufacturing, mobility, healthcare, energy, and IT, though the platform is also expected to support new business models.

Hitachi is taking a multi-pronged approach to developing technology solutions for the various layers of 5G, accommodating for regionally available infrastructure and needs. Leveraging Hitachi’s extensive Operational Technology (OT) knowledge accumulated over the years, as well as advanced digital technologies such as AI, Hitachi is developing Lumada solutions through collaborative creation with customers to resolve the various challenges they face and accelerate digital transformation within their businesses. 5G is expected to make business infrastructure more dynamic and improve business continuity and resilience in a “new normal” environment; Hitachi plans to enhance these benefits through “Lumada × 5G” to create added value for customers.

In a major step forward on this front, Hitachi America has partnered with Ericsson to install a dedicated 5G network in its Silicon Valley Research Center in Santa Clara, California. With this network, Hitachi America will be able to validate new 5G technologies and related solutions it is developing to generate an understanding of their potential value to customers. Hitachi America intends to start by testing manufacturing solutions using the 5G collaborative teleoperation technology co-developed with Georgia Institute of Technology (“Georgia Tech”) and continuing to work closely with Ericsson on joint development initiatives for industry solutions as a result of this new dedicated 5G lab network.

Erik Josefsson, Head of Advanced Industries, Ericsson, said:

“Ericsson has been working with Hitachi and its ecosystem partners to identify use cases for co-development of industry vertical 5G-enabled IoT solutions to meet product pipeline demands as 5G adoption accelerates. This new dedicated 5G network is another proof point in our collaboration moving forward.”

Collaborative robotics between humans and robots will be a key technology to leverage as our society works to achieve contactless, fully automated systems while maintaining human supervision. The remote control of industrial robots by human operators as well as intuitive operation of robots by analysis/control functions located on a multi-access edge computing (MEC) server will require high-speed detailed communication between humans and robots to enable accurate assessment of what is happening on site. Further, with the increasing trend towards personalization, today’s manufacturing industry is fast evolving towards hyper-customization done at scale, which will require flexible production lines.

The key technologies that are making flexible automation at scale possible are robotics and AI, with 5G and time-sensitive networking (TSN) serving as a digital backbone. Hitachi America, in collaboration with Georgia Tech, is developing novel applications to realize flexible automation powered by 5G edge AI technology. One such application is a real-time and interactive remote collaboration between skilled workers and machines. Optimized control of the robot can be realized by the 5G edge AI technology allocated to the MEC server and by utilizing the wide variety of large-capacity sensor data (comprised of 4K video and TOF sensor information) collected from the site via 5G to support appropriate judgment by the remote human operator.

To validate this technology, a scenario case was assumed where a fully automated robotic arm picking task is affected by a malfunction. Such a situation may occur, for example, if the object to be picked up by the robotic arm is not positioned correctly or is of a different size or shape. Hitachi’s 5G edge AI technology provides seamless intuitive remote control of the robotic arm through the real-time analysis of comprehensive sensing data. This technology is expected to reduce work time by 50-70 percent compared to the conventional method, in which a remote operator directly controls a robotic arm. The technology incorporates flexible automation at scale, which will help usher the manufacturing industry into a new age of hyper-customization.

“Hitachi’s Silicon Valley Research Center will serve as critical proving grounds for currently emerging technologies relating to collaborative robotic systems,”

says Sonia Chernova, Associate Professor in the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech.

“Adaptive automation requires access to high quality, multi-modal data from a wide range of sensors. Hitachi’s 5G capabilities are poised to revolutionize how such data is collected, aggregated, and analyzed at scale in real-time, helping to make the next generation of advanced robotic systems possible.”

The dedicated 5G network will provide a test environment for Hitachi America and Ericsson to explore 5G solutions in North America, as well as for potentially interested customers to join Hitachi’s co-creation approach to accelerate development and validate the value of digital transformation. The combination of 5G and Hitachi’s platform technology has the potential to transform industries across North America.

Hitachi will continue to create innovative solutions through “Lumada × 5G” to catalyze changes in business infrastructure, improve business continuity and resilience, and add value for customers.

Researchers exploring 5G use cases with a robotic arm at the Silicon Valley Research Center

Source: Hitachi

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Valtra and Elisa Introduce Remote-Controlled Tractor

Marco Pinza — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 17:00:34 +0000

Valtra and Elisa have joined forces to innovate a 5G solution which enables the remote operation of a tractor with the 5G network and a 360 camera. The solution is the first of its kind in the world.

In March, Valtra and Elisa unveiled a remote-controlled tractor, utilising new-generation 5G network technology. The collaboration was featured at the opening event of the Elisa 5G Showroom. The prototype solution enables the real-time, safe control and operation of a tractor hundreds of kilometres away.

“Radio-controlled tractors have been in use for years, but it’s always meant staying within sight of the machine. 5G revolutionises this, as now a tractor can be driven remotely from anywhere,”

says Mikko Lehikoinen, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Valtra.

“Elisa is a forerunner in 5G technology, both in Finland and internationally. The remote-controlled tractor that’s been developed together with Valtra and introduced at Elisa 5G Showroom has generated a lot of interest. 5G services and solutions are going to bring efficiency and innovative new ways of operating for businesses and people. The remote-controlled tractor is a very real example of this, as the driver no longer needs to physically sit in the cab. We want to build a sustainable future through digitalisation, and developing 5G services is part of making that a reality,”

says Kimmo Pentikäinen, Vice President, Business Development at Elisa.

Remote control to improve safety

The remote control was achieved through an integrated 5G connection and a roof-mounted 360-degree camera. The 5G network enables the remote driver’s VR glasses to receive a 4K view of the environment in real time. The driver can examine the tractor’s surroundings simply by turning their head. The remote control sends its control signal through Elisa’s commercial, high-security 5G network.

“When you drive your tractor and turn its wheels, you need to get immediate feedback to give the feeling of driving. With 5G, the low latency makes this possible”,

says Lehikoinen.

Remote control is a key step towards fully autonomous driving, which could become a reality for many end users within the next decade. Remote control can be utilised for instance to operate driverless tractors in challenging sites or tasks that would be dangerous in manned operations. This makes a tractor an even more versatile solution and tool.

Connect already uses 3G

Valtra has previously piloted remote-controlled tractors with airport operator Finavia.

”We will continue our work in researching and developing remote control solutions. Next we plan to figure out how to adjust picture quality according to each task, and how remote operation could be further enhanced with sensor data useful to the operator,”

says Lehikoinen.

Valtra tractor technologies already supports remote control, which will facilitate the implementation of remote control features. For example, the Valtra Connect telemetry solution which uses the 3G signal is in use in over 3,000 Valtra tractors across the world.

Source: Valtra

https://www.americafem.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Valtra-Tech-for-web.mp4

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Exploring the potential for 5G in construction

NAFEM Newsroom — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 13:30:12 +0000

In a global first, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is among a small number of pioneering companies trialling 5G mobile connectivity. With the program set to make a big impact on construction innovation, we find out more from 5G expert Calle Skillsäter, Volvo CE’s Technical Specialist for Connected Machines.

The 5G partner program by Telia and Ericsson is the first industrial application of 5G, with only a small number of companies across the Nordic countries taking part. For Volvo, it means testing the development of remote-controlled machines and finding out the real-world potential for autonomous solutions.

Calle, what does this trial mean for Volvo CE?

5G allows us to transport data in ways that we could only ever dream about. A faster, more reliable mobile network will mean we’re at the forefront of driving a much faster market implementation of technologies like automation. Something that had seemed impossible a few years ago is now a very real opportunity today.

So, what exactly are you testing? And how is the test site laid out?

We have a 25 hectare test site where the remote-controlled wheel loader, the L180H, is located – and a simulator inside a tent about 100m away behind a concrete wall. The test track itself has a number of physical barriers, uphill and downhill tracks and rough terrain – all designed to mimic the real conditions of a construction site. At the moment, the simulator is actually quite close to the machine, but this is only so that we can be near the track to adjust the conditions. There really is no reason that the machine couldn’t be located much further afield.

How long will the trial go on for and what do you hope to achieve?

We will be testing this technology for two years. Over this time, we will see the performance of the network evolve and get better. What is really exciting is that at this very early stage, we are in a unique position to iron out any problems and play a key role in actually influencing how 5G will work for industrial purposes when it is rolled out more widely.

Of course, the goal for us here at Volvo CE, is that we want to make this system so mature and so successful that we can test it with our customers. To see how this technology can function on a real construction site. Hopefully that will be something we can achieve by the end of the trial.

Will you be testing technology out with other Volvo machines?

Absolutely. The aim is that after the initial testing phase with the wheel loader, we will then be able to test it with the HX2 hauler concept machine to see whether it is possible to have a work cycle operated entirely using 5G. In principle, we can then test 5G with six to eight autonomous haulers transporting gravel across the site.

It seems that mining offers some of the best potential for exploring this technology. Why is that?

Mining can be dangerous – either for people operating the machines in remote locations or because of the fumes that are released after blasting rock. But if we can remove people from the site, then we are reducing the risk of accidents entirely. You’ll also have the capability to operate several operations and sites from one central location – increasing productivity.

Are there any other sectors that could benefit from 5G automation?

Absolutely, it’s not just mining. The forestry industry could certainly benefit, as an industry where you have lots of incoming trucks loading and unloading on to trains, often at night. Clearly working at night offers some dangers for visibility so removing operators makes the operation more safe. And again, for really dangerous jobs in the steel industry or the energy sector, where physically moving material can risk explosion or toxic gas emissions, then removing people is clearly a good solution.

But for construction it’s really about boosting productivity?

Safety is obviously a big factor, but clearly 5G will have a direct positive impact on productivity. Today’s remote control technology provides a delay which makes it very difficult to control a machine with any speed or precision, but 5G will be as good as real time. In addition, the picture quality is much better, video footage is in a better resolution and 5G provides a more reliable connection – all of which makes it easier for the operator in the simulator.

What challenges have you experienced so far?

We did find it hard to initially get the hardware. We are so early in the trial that we have trouble finding modems to communicate with the antenna. Telia has been useful in providing the right equipment for us to use. We are so early in trialing this technology that this obviously has its advantages and disadvantages.

And when these issues are resolved, when can we see 5G rolled out to the wider industry?

It depends on different use cases in construction – how do they work, do they meet the demands of the industry, is it feasible for customers? 5G will come first to those that benefit the most, but it will take time to build the network and required infrastructure. For us here in the construction industry, and for static operations like a quarry or mine it really can come quite fast. The timing is good – our customers need connectivity and they want more data. And we’re the ones providing the research to see just how possible it is.

Source: Volvo ce news

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