“Cameras integrated into the forklifts serve as the basis for calculating autonomous driving maneuvers. These cameras simultaneously calculate driving movements and determine coordinates accurate to the millimeter,” explains Ludwig Huber, the integration manager for the Landshut plant. “The calculations are outsourced to a high-performance data cloud using 5G technology.” This eliminates the need for complex processors and corresponding hardware directly in the vehicles. Optimal control of the forklifts via the cloud reduces the downtime of the logistics vehicles and increases the performance and efficiency of the entire logistics system.
5G wireless technology plays a crucial role in the implementation of the cloud-based logistics solution at the Landshut plant's supply center. The new mobile communications standard enables the transmission of large volumes of data in a very short time. 5G thus facilitates the real-time networking of machines and systems. “5G, the fifth generation of mobile communications, is more than just a gradual evolution of existing standards. Besides significantly higher data rates, it will make it possible to network billions of machines and transmit data almost in real time. The Robot-in-the-Cloud project impressively demonstrates these 5G application possibilities in the context of Industry 4.0,” said Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger.
Source: PressClub Germany, Author: Saskia Graser, BMW Group