The partners will operate a 5G network at Volvo CE’s research facility in Sweden
Ericsson, Volvo Construction Equipment and Telia said they are already operating what they claim is Sweden’s first 5G network for industrial use.
Operated with a test license, the 5G network is comprised of Ericsson commercial hardware and software, including 5G New Radio and core products from Ericsson’s 5G platform, at Volvo CE’s research and development facility in Eskilstuna, a municipality approximately 56 miles west of Stockholm.
The partners said they aim to develop solutions for remote control of construction machinery and fully automated solutions, and that another goal of the project is to increase industry efficiency and sustainability through 5G testing.
“We can see that the industry’s interest in 5G is considerable,” said Anders Olsson, CEO of Telia Sweden. “Automation of the entire flow will mean new ways of working and greater gains from efficiency. But to connect business-critical machines and vehicles requires a solution that is able to handle the massive amounts of data with guaranteed connection. That is what 5G can give us. And we are proud to lead the 5G-development in Sweden together with our partners.”
“We are testing locally in Eskilstuna, but we operate globally. Connected machines and autonomous solutions are the future. They can give our customers more efficient production, logistics, greater flexibility and safer work. By minimizing the potential safety risks and downtime associated with sectors such as mining, we can get closer to our goal of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero unplanned stops. It will be exciting to see how far 5G can take us on that journey,” said Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE.
Jernberg also highlighted that “automation has several levels and having 5G is an important technical support to enable us to drive development in this area.”
These trials in Eskilstuna will include the remote control of a conventional wheel loader but also further tests of the HX2 concept load carrier, Jernberg added.
Magnus Frodigh, head of Ericsson Research, said that due to “extremely short response times, high capacity, and a high level of accessibility to the mobile network, commercial and standardized 5G technology can be used for applications such as remote control of heavy machinery in real time.
“This opens up opportunities for greater efficiency, cutting costs and reducing risk in hazardous environments. 5G enables us to create a safer, more efficient and sustainable society.”
Telia started a 5G partner program in 2018 that provides an innovation environment to explore the technical and commercial opportunities offered by 5G prior to commercial launch in 2020. To date, Volvo Construction Equipment, Einride, Tieto and Mid Sweden University have joined the partner program, where Ericsson is the main technology partner.
