INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology

To this end , the partners are researching and validating the use of Cloud RAN at the 5G-Industry Campus Europe using four specific application scenarios from industry : through the development of a sensor-tocloud pipeline for process monitoring in milling , the virtualisation of control and object recognition for mobile robotics in freely interlinked assembly and cloudbased , robot-supported prefabrication in construction production . In addition , virtualised assistance functions for medical applications in surgery rooms and clinics are being investigated in the field of healthcare .

Research platform for future 5G applications

Cloud RAN enables the virtualisation of the Radio Access Network ( RAN ) and creates a basis for the use of 5G functionalities and industrial applications on shared server hardware . This simplifies the introduction of new technologies and production systems within an efficient and scalable production infrastructure in companies .

The RAN is an important component of mobile networks and enables wireless communication between mobile devices and the mobile provider ’ s core network . Until now , operating your own 5G network has required separate servers for RAN data processing . Cloud RAN offers an alternative here through the use of standard servers on which a virtualised RAN application and industrial applications can be operated together .

Cloud RAN technology makes it possible to operate the entire RAN for the 5G system on existing local cloud systems without having to provide separate servers for RAN operation . To achieve this , the RAN software is isolated from the hardware : the virtualisation of the RAN enables the use of manufacturer-independent hardware and simultaneously supports the operation of industrial applications , for example for processing sensor data , speech recognition , image processing or for controlling robots on the same system . The parallel and needs-based operation of applications reduces resource requirements and makes it easier for companies to set up a 5G infrastructure that is individually adapted to their needs .

Research project prepares Cloud RAN for industrial use

The ‘ CLOUD56 ’ research project , funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport ( BMDV ), aims to make Cloud RAN technology ready for industrial use .

The implementation of Cloud RAN technology at the 5G-Industry Campus Europe serves as a research platform for future 5G applications for industry . The flexibility and scalability of the Cloud RAN testbed gives companies the opportunity to evaluate and implement individual network solutions according to their own requirements .

Project Coordinator Niels König , Head of the Production Metrology Department at the Fraunhofer IPT , emphasises the importance of this success : “ For us , Cloud RAN represents a fundamental shift in the field of industrial 5G applications . Thanks to a completely new architectural approach , Cloud RAN promises an extremely scalable network deployment on standard hardware as well as synergies with cloud-based industrial applications . In addition , it contributes to the creation of a modern and sustainable IT infrastructure for a wide range of industrial applications . This project expands our existing infrastructure at the 5G-Industry Campus Europe and opens up completely new possibilities for our project partners .” p

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