Working hand in hand, Huawei and China Mobile have joined forces with Haier, China’s top producer of consumer electronics and home appliances, to introduce cutting-edge manufacturing solutions that blend 5G technology and mobile edge computing in their smart factories with tremendous success. The groundbreaking announcement took place in Qingdao, China, showcasing the remarkable achievements on Friday.
These innovative solutions, conceived at the collaborative innovation hub established in February, seamlessly integrate 5G edge computing with artificial intelligence, specifically harnessing the power of machine vision within manufacturing environments. The versatile applications of these advancements cater to a myriad of manufacturing scenarios, offering a wide array of functionalities. Haier has already implemented these technologies in seven smart factories across China and aims to expand to 20 factories by the close of 2022.
Over the next five years, Huawei is poised to assist Haier in deploying 5G solutions and transforming approximately 100 of its manufacturing facilities worldwide. The trio also has plans to extend these game-changing technologies to other prominent manufacturers both within China and beyond.
5G technology bestows manufacturers with abundant bandwidth, reaching up to 20GBps, and impressively low latencies, as quick as just 1 millisecond. Leveraging mobile edge computing, a key feature of 5G, offers cloud computing capabilities with ultralow latency. Despite these promising advancements, manufacturers are just scratching the surface of 5G’s full potential.
These solutions empower the implementation of high-performance machine vision within a manufacturing setting through low-latency connections linking high-definition cameras, AI modules on-site, and remote training servers. Integrated on a 5G-enabled production line, machine vision streamlines quality control checks, showcasing over 99% accuracy and surpassing traditional methods by at least 10%. Compared to human-performed visual inspections, machine vision notably reduces false-positive and false-negative outcomes.
Additionally, the collaborative efforts resulted in the development of technologies to enhance site and personnel safety. In stark contrast to conventional video surveillance systems that solely record activities, AI-powered surveillance can instantly trigger alarms when detecting anomalies on the factory floor, such as unauthorized individuals, safety breaches, or misplaced workers.
These innovative solutions further facilitate the efficient coordination of multitudes of personnel, machinery, and materials involved in intricate production lines. Achieved through a harmonious integration of high-definition cameras, 5G gateways, and intelligent industrial terminals supported by artificial intelligence.
Looking ahead, these solutions will continue to evolve, aiming to introduce advanced “digital twins” visualization technology. Digital twin technology recreates a dynamic virtual replica of a real production floor, enabling real-time preventive maintenance and simulation of production process modifications before implementation. The collaborative trio is also exploring how the 5G environment can optimize automated guided vehicles to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of transporting goods within warehouses or along manufacturing lines.
Moving forward, Haier, China Mobile, and Huawei remain committed to their partnership to pioneer 5G manufacturing applications for the mutual benefit of their partners and customers, both domestically and internationally.
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