The future of port automation with 5G technology
PROJECT
Working on behalf of our customer we helped to survey, design, build and test a new 5G trial solution. The project was to install a 5G solution within a large port in the UK. The cellular network would be private, covering the container storage and crane operating areas of the port.
The trial project looked to test two uses: predictive maintenance of quay cranes using IoT sensors and providing communications for remote control yard cranes. The future of the technology being, remotely controlled machinery and fault finding – reducing costs and increasing productivity for business’s like the port.
SOLUTION
After the survey and creation of design, our build team installed 5 sectors of Ericsson 4408 Micro radios, located on two lighting towers. The radios connect over fibre to a 6630 baseband unit in one of the customer’s comms rooms.
Our team installed the new server core in the customers rack, connecting to the external network and internal fibre patch fields. To power these networks our team installed a dedicated PSU. We also fitted and connected a GPS antenna for the 5G timing and synchronisation.
For the radio install, we utilised two lighting towers. The radios all needed power and fibre connectivity which our team installed, involving rigging at hights of 22m.
Our partner fitted IoT sensors to six of the port’s quay cranes, which use our 5G technology to transmit data in real time back to the port operations.
Our team worked closely with the port authorities so as not to disrupt their logistical operations. The project commenced in April 2021 and was finished 7 months later.
BENEFIT
5G has huge potential to revolutionise a wide range of UK industries. The 5G network can handle the huge volume of data collected, levels that wouldn’t be sustainable over 4G.
The newly installed system can now detect anomalies in the cranes and alert the operators in real time, fixing faults before they even happen. The crane automation also negates the requirements for a driver to ascend to the crane each day, reducing the risk of working at height.
Now installed the innovative technology can be monitored for its effectiveness and for future 5G rollouts. Virtua are privileged to have been involved in a forward thinking project, one that hopefully we will see rolled out.
