In collaboration with Unmanned Solutions, south Korean mobile carrier LG Uplus, a self-driving solutions provider, tested a 5G-powered autonomous service robot at Hyundai Oilbank’s oil refining facility in Seosan, 105 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
The demonstration showcased the autonomous robot capable of roaming inside the industrial compound to monitor facilities without human intervention. The robot could implement safety procedures as it patrols the facility, according to LG Uplus.
LG Uplus plans to launch the self-driving robots next year.
In August, LG Uplus signed a memorandum of agreement with Unmanned Solutions to develop autonomous service robots to perform various purposes such as monitoring, logistics, and quarantine. Under the deal, the mobile carrier would provide its 5G communication and real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) technology to the solutions provider’s autonomous logistics robots.
Unmanned Facility Monitoring
RTK, a satellite-based navigation technique, enhances the accuracy of the location positioning of the autonomous robot. It uses LG Uplus’ mobile communication networks to patrol essential facilities in industrial compounds where safety is of utmost importance.
“The autonomous robot will be core equipment for the refinery industry, which prioritizes safety.”
-Seo Jae-yong, LG Uplus’ head of convergence business
The 5G-powered self-driving robot’s highly-upgraded image analytics solution helps it to navigate its surroundings, bypassing obstacles, and keeping traffic lanes. The unmanned vehicle also LG Uplus’ ultra-low latency system to make quick responses to unexpected situations and communicate smoothly with control centers.
Furthermore, the autonomous robot also comes equipped with sensors such as internet-of-things-based hazardous gas detection and thermal imaging cameras.
During the test run, the robot moved to its designated destinations with a 10-centimeter margin of error. It checked the facilities’ surface temperatures while a control tower monitored real-time video feed using a 5G network. The 5G technology also allows for efficient and effective transmission of enormous amounts of data.
In June, LG Uplus partnered with the Kumoh National Insitute of Technology to establish a 5G-connected smart city and smart factory in the industrial city of Gumi. The mobile carrier and the engineering institute would create a 5G dedicated network in the city’s industrial zone.
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