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– ABB and Ericsson, together with Swisscom, showed for the first time how robots can be controlled easily and effectively over long distances, using 5G’s real-time communication capabilities.
Minapim by Hernan Valenzuela: The potential of 5G-enabled latency-free communication was shown in Switzerland, an ABB YuMi® collaborative robot recorded a message in a sandbox and was replicated at the same time by a second YuMi® robot located at 1, 5 km.
The simultaneous action was activated through the Swisscom 5G network, equipped with Ericsson technology in real time and viewed on video screens in both locations. Based on a multi-year technical collaboration, ABB and Ericsson have developed the fundamental technologies needed to connect machines via a 5G mobile network.
“ABB will continue to drive the digital transformation of industries, investing in the development of innovative products and solutions. Our partnership with Ericsson and Swisscom helps us to harness the full potential of 5G for industrial manufacturing, ”said Peter Voser, CEO and President of ABB. Sami Atiya, President of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business, said: “5G wireless technologies make it easier for robots to connect to cloud and plant automation systems, allowing faster access to more data and better decision making based on information that will help improve efficiency and reliability throughout the production cycle. As we replace traditional cable configurations with 5G mobile networks, we can significantly increase flexibility in manufacturing. ”
”5G technology partnerships between companies, government and society are essential for the development of the digital economy. By adopting and enabling these partnerships, new digital opportunities can be seized to benefit the global economy, national economies and businesses of all sizes, ”said Börje Ekholm, president and CEO of Ericsson.
Urs Schaeppi, CEO of Swisscom, said: “The joint demonstration used our 5G network live in Davos to give an idea of 5G’s capabilities and various possibilities for manufacturing and robotics. Now is the time to enter 5G”.
With this technology, companies pave the way for the highest flexibility of machines on the shop floor. Using 5G networks, the deployment and operations of large fleets of autonomous machines and robots will become a reality.
A significant benefit of 5G in industrial environments is that, instead of a single control / single purpose operational approach, multiple machines can be controlled by a central resource, reducing the cost of managing and maintaining OT and IT systems across a global base.
About the demo partners:
ABB is continuously working towards autonomous industries in all customer segments. For example, as the first in the world, ABB allowed a ferry to be controlled remotely at the port of Helsinki in late 2018. 5G is an enabling technology that will help drive the digital transformation of industries, increasing productivity, efficiency and quality in worldwide manufacturing.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a technology leader that is driving the digital transformation of industries. With a history of innovation over more than 130 years, ABB has four world-leading companies focused on the customer: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion and Robotics and Discrete Automation, supported by the ABB Ability ™ digital platform. ABB’s Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries, with approximately 147,000 employees.
Ericsson allows communication service providers to capture the full value of connectivity. The company’s portfolio encompasses Networks, Digital Services, Managed Services and Emerging Businesses and is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson’s investments in innovation have provided the benefits of telephony and mobile broadband to billions of people around the world.
Swisscom, Switzerland’s leading telecommunications company and a leading IT company.
Sources: ABBN Ericsson Swisscom
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