Turkcell, Ericsson perform the first 5G connected autonomous mobile robot demo

Turkcell and Ericsson have successfully performed the first industrial use case demonstration of Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Safe Crossing in Turkey. The demonstration was deployed in close collaboration with Ericsson’s Industry 4.0 partners, autonomous mobile robot manufacturer Milvus Robotics and a global manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications at Turkcell Kartal Plaza/Captive Office.

Milvus Robotics has integrated an industrial modem with 5G SA connection technology into their own produced SEIT 1500 AMR. Ericsson’s Industry 4.0 partner, a global manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications, provided a safety laser scanner to detect, with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), blind spots on the route and detect objects that would hinder or slow down the operation of the AMR.

The demonstration was deployed by using both network slicing from a public network (Dual-mode 5G Core Standalone) and Ericsson Private 5G network using 5G standalone technology. Ericsson Private 5G is a product offering a single server 5G dedicated network based on a dual mode core, providing both LTE and 5G SA simultaneously. Network slicing is another option for CSPs (Communication Service Providers) that leverage investment in the public network by proposing 5G stand alone connectivity for their enterprise customers.

The demonstration highlighted 5G’s and Private Networks’ abilities to enable manufacturers in Turkey to process and manage, with AI, substantial amounts of data that allow the free movement of AMRs around the production environment with a high density of connected devices. With stop time and latency being critical components of an industrial system, playing a crucial role in ensuring safety across operations, the demonstration also addressed 5G’s capability to provide real-time data transfer with low latency that will enhance safety across industrial operations.

Gediz Sezgin, Chief Technology Officer at Turkcell, says: “This demonstration that we have done has been a milestone in our journey to develop Private Network solutions that enable smart industrial applications of emerging digital technologies. Private Networks will be a vital component of Turkey’s industrial communications infrastructure, soon. As Turkcell, within the framework of our leadership in Turkey’s digitalization, we continue to work with our business partners to implement the latest technologies and to develop connectivity solutions that accelerate the industrial transformation processes of businesses.”

Işıl Yalçın, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Turkey at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “As a long-term partner and research and development collaborator, we are committed to supporting Turkcell with reliable connectivity that will aid the industrial transformation journey of Turkish enterprises and elevate its ambition to build a future-proof, technology-agnostic network. To realize this demo, we combined the solutions of our global partner, manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications, with those of Turkish AMR manufacturer Milvus Robotics, and implemented one of the most important examples of Industry 4.0 use case by using Turkcell’s 5G networks. The successful demonstration of AMR Safe Crossing has highlighted the significance of 5G-ready cellular networks in the industrial sector and will open doors to a range of smart factory applications in the country.”

The Ericsson Connected Manufacturing: A guide to Industry 4.0 transformation report highlights AMR’s use in real-time production chain automation as one of the most important use cases in an enterprise’s Industry 4.0 transformation journey. The successful AMR demonstration has brought Turkcell one step closer to offering solutions that propel enterprises across Turkey in their industrial transformation journeys.

CT Bureau