In today’s world where competitiveness is everything for manufacturers, the roll out of 5G networks will offer manufacturing industry the opportunity to build factories smarter. Similar to energy and utility sector, manufacturing represents one of the most significant sectors of new revenue potential for telecom operators addressing industry digitalization with 5G. The Industrial 5G applications comprise support for three distinct types of factory communication, enhanced mobile broadband, machine-type communication, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications.
Enhanced mobile broadband communications is likely to use 5G’s high data rates and heightened coverage, compared to 4G. This will open up wireless applications in areas like augmented and virtual reality. Conversely, Massive Machine-Type Communication is aimed at providing wide area coverage and allow a large number of IoT devices to be connected per square kilometer. This communication is also designed to offer connectivity that features low software and hardware requirements from the connected devices, and support for low-energy, battery-optimizing operation.
Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication leverages 5G’s high system reliability and reaction times in the low millisecond range. And potential applications are seen in process automation for closed loop control, mobile control panels with unified safety functionality, mobile robots and motion control.
Industrial 5G Paving the Future Manufacturing
For manufacturing, 5G provide the essential network characteristics as low latency and high reliability are needed to support critical applications. The 5G communications standard offers higher bandwidth and ability for more data to be sent concurrently than with 4G. This higher bandwidth will enable higher flexibility, lower cost, and shorter lead times for factory floor production reconfiguration, layout changes, and alterations.
Though, 5G will not only create rooms for real-time wireless sensor networks and location and asset tracking, it will also allow plant managers in smart factories to rely on seamless communication with a fleet of autonomous guided vehicles without worrying about network failures. Its high bandwidth and connection density secure omnipresent connectivity and will be able to replace wired connections.
The Path to Industrial Automation
5G networks, in industrial automation, will be able to replace wired connections in even the most demanding applications, including motion control and high throughput vision systems. However, switching to 5G is not only an inexpensive proposition, but there are requirements to upgrading infrastructure so it will accommodate it.
As 5G runs on the less crowded higher frequency spectrum, nearly 6 GHz, or by using millimeter waves on new radio frequencies anywhere between 30 and 300 GHz, it can easily be blocked by obstacles and absorbed by rain, and even humidity. So, this will require installing small-cell networks with smaller antennas placed closer together.
Moreover, with the next generation of the industrial revolution being triggered by the integration of evolving technology, the impact that 5G has on Industry 4.0 will be unique. And it will offer manufacturers the chance to build smart factories that can capitalize on the emerging technology transforming the industry.