Application of 5th Generation Mobile Communication System to Industrial Robot Control

• Published in: Denki Gakkai ronbunshi. D, Sangyō ōyō bumonshi 2020/04/01, Vol.140(4), pp.314-326
• Main Authors: Yokota, Atsuki, Honda, Sora, Yamafuku, Kei, Nishida, Takeshi, Ikenaga, Takeshi, Mori, Naoki, Matsunaga, Akira, Maruyama, Kakeru, Yoshida, Kyohiro, Osada, Shintaro
• Format: Article
• Language: Japanese
• Subjects: 5G mobile communication; 5th generation mobile communication system; Communications systems; Control systems; Dimensional measurement; FA system; Factories; Industrial plants; industrial robot; Industrial robots; Mobile communication systems; Radio; Robot control; Robots; three-dimensional measurement sensor
• ISSN: 0913-6339; 2187-1094; 1348-8163; 2187-1108
• DOI: 10.1541/ieejias.140.314

This paper presents the results of verification tests for the application of a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G) to an industrial robot control system, consisting of an industrial robot, a three-dimensional measurement sensor, and a robot controller. First, the configuration of the industrial robot control system to be used for testing was examined. Second, the 5G radio characteristics at two factories were measured. The radio interference to/from devices in operation in the factories and the human shield effect influencing the radio characteristics were also examined in these measurements. In factory automation, it is generally inevitable to spend a long time rearranging the components of the industrial robot control system. From the test results, it was confirmed that the time required could be greatly reduced by replacing wired communication lines with 5G capable systems.