5G Technology for networked, adaptive production

Low latency and high data rates enable process monitoring of the future

In order to increase productivity, efficiency and product quality, today's manufacturing processes and plants must be designed flexibly and adaptively. This requires the development of increasingly powerful sensor and control technology. At the same time, the manufacturing processes used are becoming more and more complex. Especially in machining, but also in robotics and distributed systems, this means even more complex motion sequences for workpieces and system components. As a direct result, highly reliable and wireless data transmission techniques are required to transfer the data of in-process sensors and control devices and meet the constantly growing requirements for transmission speed and latency.

With low latencies and high data rates, the new 5G mobile technology offers enormous potential for production: Processes can be continuously monitored and documented, and process flows can be configured adaptively in real time. Through the intelligent interaction of the 5G network with local edge cloud systems, continuous real-time applications can be implemented in a scalable manner - from the sensor to the cloud.

The Fraunhofer IPT operates a unique test environment for the future mobile radio standard 5G in cooperation with Ericsson, the Swedish provider of mobile radio and telecommunications technology. In this environment, industrial application scenarios based on the wireless transmission standard can be tested and further developed. With its short latency times of less than one millisecond, high data rates of up to 10 Gbit/s and the ability to operate numerous devices simultaneously in tightly defined radio cells, 5G technology is particularly well suited for use in networked, adaptive production systems with extensive measurement and control technology. The large variety of machines and applications at the Fraunhofer IPT offers the opportunity to use and test the technology in a wide variety of applications.

Our offer: A testbed for digitalization in production

Keep your production future-proof with the right infrastructure

Connectivity Strategy

  • Evaluation of suitable architectures, technologies and services
  • Comparison of technologies in relation to defined use cases
  • Creation of technology roadmaps
  • Accompanying the strategy process, up to the roll-out

Prototypes & Proof of Concept

  • Development of first prototypes and proof of concepts
  • Comparative tests to determine the most suitable technology for your applications
  • Testing technological possibilities and limits
  • Test new 5G features even before they are commercially available
 

Roll-out

  • We support you with scaling your PoCs and with integrating the successful new concepts into your overall business
  • Integration of new infrastructure into the overall business system
  • Scaling PoCs and Protoytpes for roll-outs

Our expertise

From 5G sensor technology for monitoring and controlling highly complex manufacturing processes, mobile robotics and logistics to cross-location production chains.

 

Industrial applications in the 5G testbed

With an area of almost one square kilometer, 19 antennas and a bandwidth of 10 gigabits/sec, we operate the largest 5G research network in Europe.

 

Future-proof infrastructures

Digital infrastructures are the basis for innovative applications such as digital twin or artificial intelligence in production. As a complement to 5G, we offer the Edge Cloud as the basis for an agile and future-proof industry. Feel free to contact us!

Research services

In cooperation with research and industry partners, we develop practicable solutions in research projects in order to bring innovative technologies into application.

Research projects

TARGET-X

Trial Platform for 5G Evolution – Cross-Industry on Large Scale

Cloud56

Scalable Cloud Architecture for 5G/6G RAN and Industrial Applications

5G-Sierra

Secure 5G infrastructures for resilient production systems and facilities

Industrial applications in the 5G testbed

© Fraunhofer IPT

Transmitting measurement data wirelessly in real time with 5G

Manufacturing aircraft turbines is complex and expensive. The production of the turbine blades alone - the blisks (blade integrated discs) - can cost up to 200,000 euros. The highest safety and quality standards must be adhered to and computer-controlled machine tools must be programmed so that the components are manufactured exactly according to the design plans. Sensors on machines and systems permanently monitor the production process. Quality analysis is usually decentralised and time-delayed, and the natural vibration of the blisks during production is a particular problem.

The combination of sensor technology and fast data transmission rates, as offered by 5G, promises a solution. In the case of blisk production, the Fraunhofer IPT has attached a specially developed sensor directly to the component. This transmits the vibration spectra of the blisks to a software programme via 5G with latencies of up to one millisecond. It immediately recognises whether the vibrations exceed a permissible normal level or reach critical frequencies and immediately adjusts the production process. Another advantage is that fast data transmission can be used to create a digital twin, the virtual image of a component. With its help, important questions relating to the production process can be clarified in advance on the computer.

Blueprint for production

© Fraunhofer IPT

5G promises attractive properties for industrial use, but it is often not yet known what performance can be achieved in certain scenarios and how exactly the technology can be integrated into an industrial infrastructure. For a leading global automotive and industrial supplier, the Fraunhofer IPT has researched the potential, gaps and possibilities of wireless 5G communication for networked, adaptive production using the example of a grinding machine.

The cooling lubricant regulation of a grinding machine was selected for the use case. A special 5G-capable temperature sensor was developed at the Fraunhofer IPT for this purpose, which provides temperature data in real time via 5G for monitoring. The sensor platform makes it possible to digitise the measurement data from the grinding thermosensor and transmit it via 5G.

Freshly published: Our latest publications

Further Fraunhofer IPT publications on the topic of "5G" can be found in the Fraunhofer-Publica

Jahr
Year
Titel/Autor:in
Title/Author
Publikationstyp
Publication Type
2024 ICNAP Report 2024
Kies, Alexander D.; Pothen, Mario; Heymann, Henrik; König, Niels; Ortmann, Max; Schmitt, Robert H.; Gilerson, André; Mattern, Alexander; Hellmich, Jan Hendrik; Groß-Weege, Ines; Leutner, Liz; Wichter, David; Bergs, Thomas; Frigge, Alexander; Gauß, Janina; Geerken, Tim; Lanfermann, Andrea; Thanhäuser, Bastian
Bericht
Report
2024 The Digital Twin Demonstrator - Bringing the concept to life
Gilerson, André; Mattern, Alexander; Schmitt, Robert H.
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2024 Zero Trust architectures for interconnected industry
Ortmann, Max; Schmitt, Robert H.
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2024 The Application of 5G Networks on Construction Sites and in Underground Mines: Successful Outcomes from Field Trials
Emontsbotz, Johannes Josef; Lee, Hyung Joo; Schmitt, Sarah; Brochhaus, Maximilian; Krishnan, Ajith; Sieger, Johannes Lukas; Jung, Victoria; Brell-Cokcan, Sigrid; König, Niels; Schmitt, Robert H.
Konferenzbeitrag
Conference Paper
2023 Microservice-basierte Laserstrukturierung
Mescheder, Holger; Sankal, Talib
Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Journal Article
2023 The Digital Twin Demonstrator
Bäckel, Niklas; Gilerson, Andre; Kreppein, Alexander; Schmitt, Robert H.
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2023 Architecture and Guideline to Implement an Energy Monitoring Framework
Mohanram, Praveen; Schmitt, Robert H.
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2023 Innovative Power Solutions for Wireless Sensor Networks
Schmitt, Sarah; Lanfermann, Andrea; Schmitt, Robert H.; Lichter, Fabian
Aufsatz in Buch
Book Article
2023 ICNAP Study Report 2023
Kies, Alexander; Pothen, Mario; Heymann, Henrik; Hellmich, Jan Hendrik; Schmitt, Robert H.; Schmitt, Sarah; Lanfermann, Andrea; Lichter, Fabian; Mathews, Julius; Hort, Simon; Bäckel, Niklas; Gilerson, Andre; Kreppein, Alexander; Mohanram, Praveen
Bericht
Report
2023 ICNAP Study Report 2022
Lossie, Karl; Pothen, Mario; Kies, Alexander; Heymann, Henrik; Cassel, Leonard; Schauss, Marc; Bruhns, Lukas; Schuh, Günther; Knußmann, Janina; Schmitt, Robert H.; Schmitt, Sarah; Kreppein, Alexander; Sankal, Talib; Siebert, Jonas
Bericht
Report
Diese Liste ist ein Auszug aus der Publikationsplattform Fraunhofer-Publica

This list has been generated from the publication platform Fraunhofer-Publica