Siemens – Siemens makes a complete private 5G solution available to industry

September 28, 2023
SIEMENS

  • Infrastructure for private industrial 5G networks with a focus on automation applications 
  • The solution is already in use at Siemens plants and pilot customers like Salzgitter AG 
  • 5G is crucial for mobile robots, autonomous logistics, driverless transport systems, and edge devices 

 

For the first time, the technology company Siemens is launching a private infrastructure developed in-house for the 5G mobile communications standard. The solution enables industrial companies to build their own local 5G networks that will provide optimal support for automation applications. 

“By building their own 5G networks, industrial companies are launching the next stage of connected production,” says Axel Lorenz, CEO of Process Automation at Siemens. “5G is crucial for applications like mobile robots, autonomous logistics, and driverless transport systems in factories. Siemens’ private 5G infrastructure also gives users sole control over the data in their 5G network at all times, and they can custom-configure the network for their applications.”

 

Other scenarios for industrial 5G wireless technology include the integrated use of connected tablets, VR glasses, and smart tools. In addition, edge devices can be used flexibly: for example, in brownfield applications where it’s difficult to lay cables. In contrast to other wireless technologies, private 5G networks use a licensed frequency band and can therefore be operated without interference.

 

5G network components from a single source

Siemens has developed its 5G infrastructure specifically for the requirements of industrial customers and industrial applications. It consists of a 5G core and a radio access network (RAN). The RAN includes the central unit (CU), the distributed unit (DU), and the radio units (RUs). Different 5G end-devices can connect to the 5G infrastructure and communicate in the private network. The all-in-one 5G solution is also designed for use in harsh industrial environments.

Before the market launch, Siemens extensively tested its private 5G infrastructure in real production environments like at the Siemens production site in Karlsruhe. By implementing and operating the prototype network in its own production facilities, Siemens was able to extensively test and refine the technology, ensuring that it can withstand the requirements of industrial production environments and support industrial applications. The private Siemens 5G infrastructure is now available in Germany, and other countries will follow. 

One of the pilot customers for the complete 5G solution is the German steel group Salzgitter AG: “We don’t just want to build any 5G network, we want an industrial 5G that meets the enormous requirements of the steel industry,” says Gerd Baresch, Chief Technology Officer at Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH. “Wherever we need to wirelessly transmit data reliably and securely – from real-time camera images to safety-relevant emergency-stop signals for driverless transport systems – we need future-proof communication technology. Siemens has been a longstanding reliable partner for network solutions, and this is precisely why we decided to work with them.”

 

SCALANCE M80000 industrial 5G radio unit

 

Highest data security with 5G infrastructure in campus networks

Private 5G networks, also known as campus networks, are 5G networks restricted to a defined company premises, a defined area, or an individual building. From Siemens’ point of view, private 5G networks offer many advantages for industry: Companies build them locally at their locations and can precisely modify them to meet their needs and applications. Companies also have full control over their data, because private 5G networks use their own local 5G spectrum. A private 5G infrastructure like the one offered by Siemens is required for building a local 5G network and making the 5G signal available on the company’s premises.

Siemens has been offering industrial 5G routers like the SCALANCE MUM853-1 and MUM856-1 for connecting robots, AGVs, and other industrial devices to a private 5G network since 2021. These routers are the final components necessary for efficient wireless connectivity in industrial environments.

 

For more information on the Siemens industrial 5G offering, please visit www.siemens.com/private-5g-networks

SourceSIEMENS

EMR Analysis

More information on Siemens: See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Dr. Roland Busch (President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens AG): See the full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Siemens Digital Industries (DI): See full profile on EMR Executive Services + https://new.siemens.com/global/en/company/about/businesses/digital-industries.html + Siemens DI is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 72,000 employees internationally.

More information on Cedrik Neike (Member of the Managing Board and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Digital Industries, Siemens AG): See full profile on EMR Executive Services

More information on Axel Lorenz (Chairman of the Measurement Technology and Process Automation Department, ZVEI Automation Association (2022-2025) + Chief Executive Officer, Process Automation Business Unit, Siemens Digital Industries, Siemens AG): See full profile on EMR Executive Services

 

More information on Salzgitter Flachstahl AG: https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/ + Salzgitter Flachstahl is the largest steel subsidiary in the Salzgitter Group. In 2021, 5,480 employees produced about 4.3 million tons of steel and generated a turnover of Euro 3.2 billion. Company produces hot-rolled wide strip, strip steel, strip plate, cold-rolled sheet and surface-finished products.

More information on Ulrich Grethe (Chief Executive Officer, Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH): https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/en/about-us/management.html + https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrich-grethe-7a22ba240/ 

More information on Gerd Baresch (Chief Technology Officer, Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH): https://www.salzgitter-flachstahl.de/de/ueber-uns/geschaeftsfuehrung.html + https://de.linkedin.com/in/gerd-baresch-4b553a197 

 

 

 

EMR Additional Notes: 

  • 4G & 5G: 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.
    • 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
      • First generation – 1G
        1980s: 1G delivered analog voice.
      • Second generation – 2G
        Early 1990s: 2G introduced digital voice (e.g. CDMA- Code Division Multiple Access).
      • Third generation – 3G
        Early 2000s: 3G brought mobile data (e.g. CDMA2000).
      • Fourth generation – 4G LTE
        2010s: 4G LTE ushered in the era of mobile broadband.
    • 5G has started hitting the market end of 2018 and will continue to expand worldwide.
    • Beyond speed improvement, the technology is expected to unleash a massive 5G IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystem where networks can serve comm
    • 5G speed tops out at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps).
      • 5G is 10 to x100 faster than what you can get with 4G.
    • The main evolution compared with today’s 4G and 4.5G (aka LTE advanced, LTE-A, LTE+ or 4G+) is that, beyond data speed improvements, new IoT and critical communication use cases will require a new level of improved performance.
      • For example, low latency provides real-time interactivity for services using the cloud: this is key to the success of self-driving cars, for example.
      • 5G vs 4G also means at least x100 devices connected. 5G must be able to support 1 million devices for 0.386 square miles or 1 km2.
      • Also, low power consumption is what will allow connected objects to operate for months or years without the need for human assistance.
      • Unlike current IoT services that make performance trade-offs to get the best from current wireless technologies (3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.), 5G networks will be designed to bring the level of performance needed for massive IoT.

 

  • Cobots (Collaborative Robots):
    • A collaborative robot, also known as a cobot, is a robot that is capable of learning multiple tasks so it can assist human beings. In contrast, autonomous robots are hard-coded to repeatedly perform one task, work independently and remain stationary.
    • Intended to work hand-in-hand with employees. These machines focus more on repetitive tasks, such as inspection and picking, to help workers focus more on tasks that require problem-solving skills.
    • A robot is an autonomous machine that performs a task without human control. A cobot is an artificially intelligent robot that performs tasks in collaboration with human workers.
    • According to ISO 10218 part 1 and part 2, there are four main types of collaborative robots: safety monitored stop, speed and separation, power and force limiting, and hand guiding.
  • Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR): 
    • Any robot that can understand and move through its environment without being overseen directly by an operator or on a fixed predetermined path. AMRs have an array of sophisticated sensors that enable them to understand and interpret their environment, which helps them to perform their task in the most efficient manner and path possible, navigating around fixed obstructions (building, racks, work stations, etc.) and variable obstructions (such as people, lift trucks, and debris). Though similar in many ways to automated guided vehicles (AGVs), AMRs differ in a number of important ways. The greatest of these differences is flexibility: AGVs must follow much more rigid, preset routes than AMRs. Autonomous mobile robots find the most efficient route to achieve each task, and are designed to work collaboratively with operators such as picking and sortation operations, whereas AGVs typically do not.
  • Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV): 
    • An AGV system, or automated guided vehicle system, otherwise known as an automatic guided vehicle, autonomous guided vehicle or even automatic guided cart, is a system which follows a predestined path around a facility.
    • Three types of AGVs are towing, fork trucks, and heavy load carriers. Each is designed to perform repetitive actions such as delivering raw materials, keep loads stable, and complete simple tasks.
    • The main difference between an AGV and an AMR is that AMRs use free navigation by means of lasers, while AGVs are located with fixed elements: magnetic tapes, magnets, beacons, etc. So, to be effective, they must have a predictable route.

 

  • Cloud Computing:
    • Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the internet. … Cloud computing is a technology that uses the internet for storing and managing data on remote servers and then access data via the internet.
    • Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over multiple locations, each location being a data center.
  • Edge Computing:
    • Edge computing is a form of computing that is done on site or near a particular data source, minimizing the need for data to be processed in a remote data center.
    • Edge computing can enable more effective city traffic management. Examples of this include optimising bus frequency given fluctuations in demand, managing the opening and closing of extra lanes, and, in future, managing autonomous car flows.
    • An edge device is any piece of hardware that controls data flow at the boundary between two networks. Edge devices fulfill a variety of roles, depending on what type of device they are, but they essentially serve as network entry — or exit — points.
    • There are five main types of edge computing devices: IoT sensors, smart cameras, uCPE equipment, servers and processors. IoT sensors, smart cameras and uCPE equipment will reside on the customer premises, whereas servers and processors will reside in an edge computing data centre.
    • In service-based industries such as the finance and e-commerce sector, edge computing devices also have roles to play. In this case, a smart phone, laptop, or tablet becomes the edge computing device.
    • Edge Devices:
      • Edge devices encompass a broad range of device types, including sensors, actuators and other endpoints, as well as IoT gateways. Within a local area network (LAN), switches in the access layer — that is, those connecting end-user devices to the aggregation layer — are sometimes called edge switches.
  • Data Centers:
    • A data center is a facility that centralizes an organization’s shared IT operations and equipment for the purposes of storing, processing, and disseminating data and applications. Because they house an organization’s most critical and proprietary assets, data centers are vital to the continuity of daily operations.
  • Hyperscale Data Centers:
    • The clue is in the name: hyperscale data centers are massive facilities built by companies with vast data processing and storage needs. These firms may derive their income directly from the applications or websites the equipment supports, or sell technology management services to third parties.

 

  • VR/AR/ER (Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality/Extended Reality): 
    • Augmented reality (AR) adds digital elements to a live view often by using the camera on a smartphone. Examples of augmented reality experiences include Snapchat lenses and the game Pokemon Go. Virtual reality (VR) implies a complete immersion experience that shuts out the physical world.
    • AR uses a real-world setting while VR is completely virtual. AR users can control their presence in the real world; VR users are controlled by the system. VR requires a headset device, but AR can be accessed with a smartphone. AR enhances both the virtual and real world while VR only enhances a fictional reality.
    • Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term encapsulating Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and everything in between. Although AR and VR offer a wide range of revolutionary experiences, the same underlying technologies are powering XR.

 

  • LAN (Local Area Network):
    • A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building.
    • By contrast, a wide area network not only covers a larger geographic distance, but also generally involves leased telecommunication circuits.
    • LAN networking requires Ethernet cables and Layer 2 switches along with devices that can connect and communicate using Ethernet. Larger LANs often include Layer 3 switches or routers to streamline traffic flows.
    • A LAN enables users to connect to internal servers, websites and other LANs that belong to the same wide area network (WAN). Ethernet and Wi-Fi are the two primary ways to enable LAN connections.
    • Ethernet is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) specification that enables computers to communicate with each other. Wi-Fi uses radio waves in the 2.4 gigahertz and 5 GHz spectrum to connect computers to the LAN.
  • WLAN (Wireless Local-Area Network):
    • Goup of colocated computers or other devices that form a network based on radio transmissions rather than wired connections. A Wi-Fi network is a type of WLAN; anyone connected to Wi-Fi while reading this webpage is using a WLAN.
    • A wireless LAN is a wireless computer network that links two or more devices using wireless communication to form a local area network within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, campus, or office building.
  • RAN (Radio Access Network):
    • A radio access network (RAN) is a major component of a wireless telecommunications system that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through a radio link. The RAN links user equipment, such as a cellphone, computer or any remotely controlled machine, over a fiber or wireless backhaul connection. That link goes to the core network, which manages subscriber information, location and more.
    • The RAN, which is sometimes also called the access network, is the radio element of the cellular network. A cellular network is made up of land areas called cells. A cell is served by at least one radio transceiver, although the standard is typically three for cell sites.
    • RANs have evolved from the first generation (1G) to the fifth generation (5G) of cellular networking. With the development of fourth generation (4G) technology in the 2000s, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project introduced Long-Term Evolution (LTE) RAN, and the radio access network and the core network changed significantly. With 4G, system connectivity for the first time was based on the Internet Protocol (IP), replacing the previous circuit-based networks.
    • Now, with LTE Advanced and 5G, improvements are coming in the form of centralized RAN, also called cloud RAN (C-RAN), and multiple antenna arrays, such as multiple input, multiple output (MIMO).
    • Since the first cellular networks were introduced, the capabilities of RAN have expanded to include voice calls, text messaging, and video and audio streaming. The types of user equipment using these networks have drastically increased, including all types of vehicles, drones and internet of things devices.