To “construct” the connected factory of the future we need more than just machines. To launch the first trial project in Italy industrial robotics giant Comau has come together with the world’s leading supplier of communication technologies and services, Ericsson, and Italy’s biggest mobile telephone operator, Tim. The project represents one of the first tangible examples of the “factory of the future” at international level in a real industrial automation context – the Comau site in Turin. This is thanks to the virtualisation of production processes through the use of advanced solutions that combine robotics, machine learning, IoT platforms, the Cloud and Big Data, and which will be further enhanced by the 5G networks to optimise performances in terms of efficiency, security and customisation.
How does it work? “The factory is being filled with sensors with real time knowledge and machine learning technology so the machines can learn to update the management on what is happening in production – explains Roberto Sabella, head of corporate research in Italy at Pisa innovation centre – The intelligence of the robot is transferred into the cloud and conveyed via radio so wired connections are not a problem”. In other words, the robot switches on, goes online and does what “the network” tells it to do. It can therefore be remote controlled. This is why it needs a 5G connection.
The flexible factory
In this way the factory, always seen as static and difficult to modify, becomes “flexible”: to change the way it operates you just need to give the robots different orders. Being connected to the cloud, the machines send data that optimise the production process and permit predictive maintenance processes: if something is amiss, it is discovered beforehand. The factory of the future could be made up of flexible production islands able to manufacture different types of blocks without the rigidity of conveyor belts and with truly standardised robotic workstations.
The German model
Germany goes beyond Information Technology to propose Computer Integrated Manufacturing. The German industry 4.0 landscape is nevertheless made up of cyber physical systems, information systems that are able to continuously interact with the physical system in which they operate. Objective: the generation and acquisition of data, the study and aggregation of previously acquired data and, finally, support for the decision-making process. Keywords: interconnection, communication and digital replica, which above all else means the presence of interconnected objects which, via sensors, are able to generate and produce different kinds of data, thus reducing the distance between the various entities involved. In short, a cyber physical system is a system in which physical objects are integrated with elements that have the ability to calculate, memorise and communicate, and which are connected together on a network. The German industry 4.0 model is geared towards the significant cost reduction and streamlining of systems.
Japan
Japan has fully embraced industry 4.0 and digitalisation, so much so that the latter is one of the main features of the plan of strategic projects promoted by the government with public-private investments of 600 billion yen – the equivalent of €4 billion. At the same time, the Japanese model has also established its next goal: the development of society 5.0.
The “human technology oriented” model chosen by Japan as a reference guide for the future puts technology back at the service of people and is founded on connected industry, which consists of connections between manufacturing industries, service companies, public entities, machines and people. This model, through the Internet of Things, the use of robots and Big Data, makes it possible to improve productivity and the quality of work and to reduce costs. Thanks to smart working, it also enables men, women and the elderly to access the working world more easily. By transforming skills and creativity into algorithms and connecting them to manufacturing sites it is possible to achieve a quick multi-product production line.
Industry 5G: the study
Ericsson has created a roadmap for operators to unlock the revenue potential of 5G-enabled industry digitalisation. In The guide to capturing the 5G industry digitalization business potential Ericsson delves deeper into how telecommunications operators can potentially grow their revenues by up to 36 percent by addressing 10 key sectors. Thanks to the use of 5G technology in the implementation of industry digitalisation use cases, in 2026 operators will be able to add revenues of between USD 204 and 619 billion (12-36%) to their forecast service revenues of USD 1.7 trillion in the same period.
Digitalisation revenues for ICT players between 2016 and 2026 are set to grow by 13.6 percent annually, while current operator service revenue growth is forecast at 1.5 percent. As 5G becomes increasingly vital to industries, there is a rise in the opportunity for new 5G-enabled revenues for operators. Of the total 5G-enabled value in 2026, up to 47 percent is addressable by operators.