Assembly Lines
Hyundai 5G Technology Enables ‘Smart’ Manufacturing
Hyundai has deployed 5G networking technology in its factories to control automated guided vehicles.
Photo courtesy Hyundai Motor Group
SEOUL—Hyundai Motor Group recently completed a successful pilot project for private 5G RedCap (reduced capability) technology. The automaker worked with Samsung Electronics Co. on the R&D project.
Private 5G is a dedicated system installed onsite using a specific frequency band, ensuring no external interference and seamless data transmission. It is important for smart manufacturing initiatives, because it supports centralized control of industrial robots and devices. It can also be tailored for optimized environments and stable communication.
The technology features simplified device configurations, compact infrastructure and reduced bandwidth usage. This results in lower power consumption, cost efficiency and improved performance over traditional Wi-Fi in speed, data processing, connection stability and low latency. The technology enables high-speed wireless communication for small tools, cameras and tablets.
Hyundai tested Samsung’s system with its in-house vehicle inspection equipment. Engineers developed a custom device to verify the network’s operational capabilities.
The company applied the technology on automated guided vehicles at its flagship assembly plant in Ulsan, South Korea. It also adopted the technology at its U.S. factory in Montgomery, AL, to operate a fleet of more than 200 autonomous mobile robots.
“The implementation of the technology at [our] plants in Korea and the U.S. has significantly reduced communication disruptions and downtime,” says Jae Min Lee, vice president and head of E-FOREST Center of Hyundai Motor and Kia. “[We have] also developed a patented dual wireless communication solution combining 5G networks with Wi-Fi, leading to zero communication-related downtime since its deployment.”
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