Panasonic And NEC To Create Faster Factories With Custom 5G

Panasonic and NEC both plan to build customized, limited 5G wireless networks that will allow manufacturers to operate hyperefficient smart factories over the emerging telecom standard.

The new services are possible due to a decision by the Japanese government to open up use of 5G spectrum to industries beyond the telecom sector as early as this fall.

The concept of a smart factory envisions data being collected by high-resolution cameras, headgear worn by workers and sensors on transport equipment. Analysis of the data is seen allowing manufacturing lines to operate faster and quantities of inputs like parts and materials to be adjusted automatically for optimal efficiency.

NEC will install production control systems that collect data from sensors placed throughout a factory. It expects demand from users that want the faster 5G speeds but not the risk of data breaches that could occur using a public network. The company also plans to offer 5G systems that can remotely control construction equipment using visual and blueprint data.

Panasonic will install 5G base stations that allow data to flow between production equipment. The Osaka-based technology group will build upon its two years of experience testing a remote image recognition system that uses 4G transmission for self-driving tractors.

To prevent interference with other existing systems that use the same bandwidth, such as satellite communications, the government will limit these new 5G networks to buildings and campuses.―Nikkei Asian Review