Three ways 5G will change manufacturing

According to RT Insights, the Manufacturing Institute released a study examining 5G wireless connectivity and its potential impact on the manufacturing industry. The study authors noted that "5G is an important step beyond 4G," and while manufacturers may initially use LTE for video streaming and real-time applications that do not require much latency, they expect LTE and 5G to coexist "using the same dedicated networks for at least the next five years."

Dr. Shawn DuBravac of the Avrio Institute and his co-authors also noted that 5G technology could significantly exceed the capabilities of previous generations of wireless networks. These enhancements include higher system capacity, lower latency, and increased device connectivity.

“5G could help realize the ideal of a modular factory, where machines can be quickly reconfigured to optimize production,” the report said. “It could facilitate the collection of data from dense fleets of sensors at a scale that was previously impossible. It would be able to head off problems by enabling systems that automatically schedule maintenance or order replacement of consumables to ensure downtime is minimized.”

Here are three key applications where DuBravac and his co-authors believe 5G networks could benefit the manufacturing industry:

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

These deployments help measure the efficiency of factory machines and any environmental issues that could affect operations, such as humidity and temperature, the report said. IIoT sensors can provide factory floor workers with real-time information about the health of their machines, which helps keep everyone safe. IIoT can also alert manufacturers when machine parts need to be replaced so they can be more proactive in making repairs.

Safety and Security

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of having a private 5G network is the number of connected devices that can run on it. 5G gives manufacturers the opportunity to deploy high-definition video streams from fixed cameras or even drones to help ensure the safety of their facilities. Monitoring equipment can also alert employees when equipment fails. Research shows that this solution is even more effective when combined with computer vision systems that view video in real time and spot dangerous situations.

Self-driving cars and robots

Autonomous vehicles are not new, but have yet to reach their full potential, the report said. Their ability to communicate with each other and other intelligent parts of the transportation network will help them reach that potential, but only through the use of technologies included in the field of vehicle-to-everything (V2X). 5G will be a key factor in the improvement of autonomous vehicles, as the network can help guide robots and forklifts around factory floors using many of the same technologies as autonomous passenger cars.

“5G has the potential to enable advanced automation through a zero-touch approach,” the report said. “5G will connect autonomous modes of transport, from forklifts to drones to the warehouse shelves themselves – all forms of transport within a factory of the future could be connected to a 5G network.”

For more details, click here to view the full report: “How 5G is changing the manufacturing landscape.”