Exploiting Extended Reality under the Manufacturing as a Service paradigm

5th International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing (ISM 2023), 22-24 November 2023, Lisbon, PortugalThe advent of new technologies and concepts such as Extended Reality (XR), Cloud Manufacturing, Digital Twin, Industrial Internet of Things is completely changing the manufacturing landscape. Innovative digital tools are available to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of companies. The XR can support the Smart Operator in production, maintenance and training activities. Similarly, Manufacturing as a Service, which is a variation of Cloud Manufacturing, can make corporate architectural systems more flexible and scalable. In this paper, some preliminary results relating to the European 5G-ERA project and the synergistic work that the companies CAL-TEK, TWI and HAL Robotics are conducting is shown. An XR-oriented architecture is proposed, whose usefulness is emphasized by the use of the MaaS concept, and the implementation of a Mixed Reality application is shown, to support an on-site operator. Future developments concern the implementation of a Virtual Reality application for the off-site operator, and the use of the 5G-ERA middleware to exploit the potential of the MaaS paradigm.This research work was partly supported by the 5G-ERA (5G Enhanced Robot Autonomy - https://5g-era.eu/) Project, which received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme (grant agreement No. 101016681

Next-gen Industry 4.0 with 5G:enabling secure and high-performance services for critical infrastructure

The advent of Industry 4.0 heralds a new era in manufacturing, driven by advancements in automation, IoT, and AI. Integral to this shift is the deployment of robust communication networks capable of real-time data exchange. Leveraging 5G technology, with its low latency and high bandwidth, is crucial in meeting these demands. However, integrating vertical services with 5G networks poses challenges. This paper, part of the 5 G-INDUCE project, focuses on deploying and validating corrosion inspection and intruder surveillance services for critical infrastructures. Trials conducted at the Greek Experimentation Facility showcased successful service deployment, configuration, and high-definition video streaming. Quantitative results exceeded expected Key Performance Indicators, demonstrating the platform’s efficacy in integrating advanced network applications. This work contributes to the evolution of Industry 4.0 by harnessing the transformative potential of 5 G technology

Advanced First Responders’ Services by Using FASTER Project Architectural Solution

Part 1: 6th Workshop on “5G – Putting Intelligence to the Network Edge” (5G-PINE 2021)International audienceAs the 5G technologies start to become a reality in telecommunication networks, more services and applications are designed to take advantage of the new features that 5G technology is offering. Additionally, several vertical sectors are using advanced applications in order to improve their performances. One important vertical is the Mission Critical Services (MCS) sector, which could significantly exploit 5G networks. When an emergency event occurs, such as a strong earthquake or a flood, the network traffic is proved to be rapidly increased. At the same time, the first responders need all the available resources in order to offer their services efficiently. In a situation like the one described which is extremely demanding and the available resources should be used as a priority by the first responders, the existing 4G network does not seem to be sufficient. It must be ensured that the first responders could be interconnected in a reliable network, which will provide a low latency and ultra-high throughput transmission being able to support all the advanced equipment and devices (UAVs, robots, AMRs, augmented reality and virtual reality glasses, etc.) that the first responders need. These requirements are satisfied by 5G networks. The 5G network architecture has been designed and implemented based on a new approach. The 5G network architecture that was designed and implemented for the needs of FASTER project and the advantages that this architecture offers to the first responders is presented in this paper