Shanghai (ZXZC)- China Unicom recently joined forces with Huawei to support the commercial deployment of a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) flexible production line that features ultra-high reliability and ultra-low latency for Baoding Automation Technology Branch of Exquisite Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.

At Great Wall Motor's factory in Baoding, Hebei, 5G-Advanced equipment is being used in the car roof production line. Traditional industrial control systems relied on wired networks for device interconnection and control. However, the continuous wear and tear of communications cables in mobile applications such as robotic arms, sliding platforms, and turntables resulted in production interruptions, causing an annual average of approximately 60 hours of downtime.

Industrial robots receive real-time instructions for their operations through high-speed wireless data transmission via 5G-A indoor base stations; photo credit: Huawei

The high reliability and low latency characteristics of 5G-A network make it suitable for high-end core manufacturing processes that require rapid responsiveness. By replacing wired networks with wireless industrial networks, the constraints of cables have been fundamentally eliminated. Compared to wired networks, the 5G-Advanced solution facilitates easier network deployment and can better support flexible manufacturing. 5G-Advanced networks also boost efficiency by integrating multiple functions, such as data collection (IT) and industrial control (OT) functions that are provided by two separate private lines in wired networks.

The Baoding Automation Technology Branch of Exquisite Automotive Systems Co., Ltd., located in Baoding city, Hebei Province, is a subsidiary of Exquisite Automotive under the Great Wall Motor (GWM), responsible for the development of intelligent equipment and the design and integration of automated production lines for GWM and other auto companies. The company boasts an annual revenue exceeding 2 billion yuan.

The global industry is actively promoting the development of 5G-Advanced. During the Global Mobile Broadband Forum that concluded last month, 13 global telecom operators, including China Unicom, jointly launched the first wave of 5G-Advanced networks. This marks the transition of 5G-A from technical validation to commercial deployment, as the technology advances towards a significant commercial year in 2024.