Rami Al Ashqar, Business Development Manager, Bosch Rexroth: 5G is the first communications standard designed to enable connectivity for people as well as for the internet of things (IoT). The new standard is up to 20 times faster than 4G, transfers data virtually instantaneously with a latency of one millisecond and is up to 99.99 percent reliable – making the receipt of a “digital shipment” as certain as with transmission through a wire.
Ovum expects that 5G will have been launched in ten Middle East and Africa (MEA) countries by the end of 2023, with 26.8 million 5G subscriptions in MEA by end-2023.In the UAE, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is working with strategic partners in deploying 5G. These indictors present previously unimaginable opportunities to the industrial sector and the non-oil economy.
With increased real-time capability and reliability with which data can be sent and received, it will enable a reliable, secure, and high-speed data transmission system with short response times. Such a powerful wireless infrastructure can facilitate efficient communication between human operators, machines, and other equipment especially within industries and will connect mobile robots, autonomous transportation vehicles, and new assistance systems such as data glasses, which provide associates with optimum support.
The advantage of 5G is that it not only provides a means of efficiently connecting mobile devices and wireless sensors, but also provides the basis for entirely new system concepts. For instance, 5G enables a mobile robot to be controlled in real time using data stored in a local manufacturing cloud. This reduces costs, increases flexibility, and simplifies maintenance. It also optimizes operation of the machines.
5G allows faster and safer responses on the shop floor. For example, if an operating console has to be shut down immediately, rather than pressing the emergency kill switch, the operator doesn’t need to be near the machine: an emergency stop and other functions can be executed using a mobile device. This makes the operator’s work easier, and also helps save costs.
Local 5G networks would virtually eliminate dependence on third-party providers. By setting up and operating their own wireless networks, manufacturers can configure them to meet the often highly demanding requirements of industrial communication applications. This solution also gives them full control over relevant security concerns. For instance, if the public network is overloaded, local 5G networks permit factory operations to continue without losing control of the system.
Such campus networks can help factory owners decide the architecture and security features best suited to their needs along with the master equipment and framework that decides who has access to specific components and data. This reduces business risks and preserves data sovereignty. Dedicated interfaces are used for connections to the internet and other public networks and are continuously monitored. These will allow factories to leverage greater output in an environment that is not only connected but more secure physically and electronically, whilst providing rich operational data to guide process improvements.
While this practice might already be a reality in the age of Industry 4.0, with the new 5G mobile communications standard, work will be achieved at speeds more than ten gigabits per second, that is ten times faster than the top speed currently available.
Experts estimate that there will be up to 70 billion connected devices worldwide by 2025. Many of them will be in manufacturing, meaning that 5G will become a competitive factor. The new communications standard will enable applications that require high-power, extremely reliable wireless connections to be integrated securely and efficiently into manufacturing facilities. These include mobile robotics, autonomous transport vehicles, and human-machine interactions. Combining tasks in the virtual world with those in the real world calls for real-time data flows. 5G is the first wireless protocol to truly meet the needs of the manufacturing industry.
Control systems and sensors of the kind built into facilities, machinery, and logistics chains stand to gain from this fast, reliable real-time wireless data transfer. Engineers and designers now face the challenges of integrating 5G into their machines and products. To address that Bosch is introducing a solution that meets their needs: automation platform’s hardware can be fitted with a 5G module. The operating system and software for ctrlX AUTOMATION are 5G-capable from the outset and support rapid commissioning. Retrofit solutions are also now available for adding the new technology to existing machinery.
