Fujitsu Launches Private 5G Network to Realize ‘Smart Factory’ at its Oyama Plant

Fujitsu Limited

Tokyo, Japan, March 30, 2021

Fujitsu today announced commencement of operations of a private 5G network at its Oyama plant in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The network consists of a 4.7 GHz band SA ⁽¹⁾ and a 28 GHz extended frequency band NSA ⁽²⁾, and will allow Fujitsu to play an important role in delivering digital transformation (DX) for plant operations, including field automation and remote support.

Fujitsu Telecom Networks Limited, which manufactures private 5G and other network equipment, will pursue human-centered smart manufacturing while utilizing advanced technologies such as AI and IoT at the Oyama Plant. Fujitsu aims to efficiently facilitate technological skill transfers and increase the precision and automation of operations in its manufacturing processes at the plant by leveraging big data, including high-definition video and sensor data. To this end, Fujitsu has built a private 5G network to handle the range of radio waves and the applications demanded in plant operations and will leverage the new network to streamline field operations at the facility.

Specifically, Fujitsu has introduced a 4.7 GHz band network ⁽³⁾, which can cover a wide range, to automate highly accurate position measurement and route control through real-time communication with automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) traveling inside the factory during the transportation of parts within facilities. For assembly work, a 28 GHz band network transmits images of products and work procedure taken by a large number of 4K cameras installed in the factory at high speed to an edge computing environment ⁽⁴⁾. This enables real-time AI image analysis ⁽⁵⁾ and offers workers instant feedback as to whether the correct movements are being performed during assembly. Fujitsu will also provide field work training and remote support using mixed reality (MR) devices ⁽⁶⁾.

Going forward, Fujitsu will apply its private 5G technologies to a variety of operations at the Oyama Plant and conduct verification, with the aim of providing services to the manufacturing industry by the end of fiscal 2021.

Overview of Activities at Oyama Plant Utilizing Private 5G

Fig. 1 Initiatives at Oyama Plant in Each Process

Fig 2. Use of Private 5G at Oyama Plant

1. Training and remote support for workers: work training and remote support by MRs

Create 3D models of products in the factory's edge computing environment and project the 3D models and instructions onto MR devices, allowing experts and developers to remotely guide and assist workers in the field. Utilizing the private 5G network makes it possible to draw a large amount of data on the MR device in real time, thereby improving the efficiency of remote work instruction and support.

Training with MR device

3D product model viewed through MR device

2. Real-time work confirmation: work judgment by AI image analysis

In conjunction with the edge computing environment and the MES ⁽⁷⁾, the AI differentiates between the operator's hand, part case, and parts themselves from the image of the assembly operation taken by multiple high-definition cameras, and determines whether the correct part is taken from the specified part case based on the procedure and mounted in the correct position on the board. The results are fed back to the operator in real time through the display and audio instructions, helping the operator perform the correct work and to improve efficiency of inspection tasks and quality control.

AI image analysis screen image of assembly operation

3. Automating transportation: automatic traveling by position control of AGVs

Images are transmitted from high-definition cameras mounted inside and outside the factory and on unmanned vehicles to the edge computing environment with low latency, and AI analysis is performed to recognize the position and control the route of unmanned vehicles with high precision in three dimensions. This effectively reduces transportation costs by automating transportation inside and between buildings and the loading and unloading of parts and products.

• [1]
  SA：
  Stand Alone. A type of 5G wireless system that uses new 5G technology, including the core network, and functions independently without using the 4G LTE core network.
• [2]
  NSA：
  Non-Stand Alone. A type of 5G radio system that realizes 5G communication in conjunction with LTE equipment.
• [3]
  4.7 GHz band network：
  Utilize a 4.7 GHz band local 5G standalone system "Fujitsu Network PW 300" developed and manufactured by Fujitsu.
• [4]
  Edge computing environment：
  In this case, Fujitsu leveraged Azure IoT Edge from Microsoft Japan.
• [5]
  AI：
  In this case, Fujitsu utilized the AI visual inspection system and the AI position measurement and lead measurement system of ACCUITY Corporation.
• [6]
  MR device：
  MR (Mixed Reality) is a technology in which a device grasps the shape of the real world and superimposes digital images on it. In this case, Fujitsu utilized "Microsoft HoloLens 2" of Microsoft Japan.
• [7]
  MES：
  Manufacturing Execution System. To grasp and control the state of the manufacturing process, and to instruct and support workers.

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