A domestic research team has presented a technology that allows for the simultaneous remote control of a single factory from both domestic and international locations, using 5G technology developed through international joint research and an intercontinental wired network.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 29th that it had successfully demonstrated an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) service that simultaneously controls and monitors smart factory equipment and robots in real time both domestically and internationally.

The key to a successful technology demonstration is ultra-low latency communication technology.

It handles communication delays of over 10,000 kilometers (km) within 0.3 seconds.

The University of Oulu, Finland, demonstrated that it is possible to control factory facilities in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk Province, in real time and without interruption.

A smart factory is an intelligent factory that applies information and communication technology (ICT) throughout the manufacturing process, increasing productivity and reducing defect rates to enhance industrial competitiveness.

The key is to automate tasks using robots while remotely controlling various processes.
> In order to prevent damage caused by communication errors, data transfer speed is important, but communication delay and data loss must be minimized.

The longer the communication distance and the more complex the communication network, the higher the delay and loss. The technology needed in this case is low-latency, high-reliability communication technology.

Based on this technology, ETRI connected the smart factory of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology located in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, using the 5G test network of the University of Oulu, Finland and the domestic test network (KOREN).

This demonstration showcased a new remote manufacturing diversification service that allows a single factory to be independently controlled from both domestic and international locations.

This is the world's first attempt to increase the scope and usability of smart factory services.

The ETRI Control Center showcased services such as remote production management system (MES) operation and ordering, and real-time equipment control and status monitoring through a remote SCADA control panel.

At the Oulu Control Center, demonstrations were held on remote control and status monitoring of mobile manufacturing robots, remote manufacturing process control using virtual reality (VR) equipment, and remote manufacturing process monitoring using wireless sensor data collection based on narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT).

In particular, it is significant that they successfully demonstrated real-time remote control and monitoring services with a round-trip delay of less than 0.01 seconds domestically and less than 0.3 seconds overseas while connecting a wired network exceeding 10,000 km.

This demonstration is expected to increase the potential for remote smart manufacturing services based on stable communication quality, thereby activating international sharing and cooperation in the manufacturing and production sectors.

This makes it easier to control from the other side of the world without having to visit the site.

The idle facilities of each industry can be efficiently utilized through remote control, which is beneficial for global resource management and industrial management of small and medium-sized enterprises.It is expected that the competition will also gain momentum.

Kim Il-kyu, head of ETRI's Mobile Communications Research Center, said, "As smart factories can now be remotely controlled not only domestically but also internationally, we expect this to revitalize the stagnant industry by meeting the demand for non-face-to-face activities in the industry that has spread due to COVID-19."

In the future, the research team plans to conduct follow-up research to ensure connectivity and mobility and implement hyperspace services through research on low-orbit satellite communications, which are considered core to 6G communication technology.

In addition, we plan to work towards realizing a future factory completed with 6G through continued collaboration with the 6G flagship program hosted by the University of Oulu.

This technology was developed in collaboration with the University of Oulu, Finland, as part of the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'International Joint Research and Cooperation for 5G+ High-Reliability, Low-Latency Core Technologies' project.

Last December, ETRI built a 5G industrial IoT system and demonstrated real-time remote monitoring and control services with a round-trip delay of less than 0.01 seconds between Daejeon and Gyeongsan.

This demonstration is the result of expanding the scope of remote services overseas.