Fujitsu, Microsoft verify private 5G and Azure system

Fujitsu has collaborated with Microsoft Japan to verify the effectiveness of a system that uses private 5G to visualise real-time data within the facility, with a view toward manufacturers' digital transformation (DX). The working model was showcased at Fujitsu ActivateNow, an online virtual conference on October 14, 2020.

This is the first achievement from the Private 5G Partnership Program, a co-creation programme which combines the use of Fujitsu's expertise and technologies such as private 5G along with technology from partners. Using Microsoft Azure IoT Edge* in the Fujitsu Collaboration Lab, a private 5G verification facility in Kawasaki, Japan, the trial analyses high-definition images of people moving in the private 5G network and operating data from cameras, mobile terminals, servers, and other equipment.

The system enables integrated visualisation of the status of people, unmanned vehicles, and equipment with the Fujitsu manufacturing industry solution COLMINA**, unifying private 5G and cloud environments to bring about a system optimised for network and processing load. The analysed data included measurements of human density in the facility, location information and travel routes of unmanned vehicles, high-definition cameras, and the operating conditions of facilities such as mobile terminals and servers.

Fujitsu will now collaborate with Microsoft Japan to conduct verification tests at Oyama, Japan, Fujitsu's manufacturing base for network products, by the end of fiscal 2020 and jointly develop solutions for global use. Fujitsu will use artificial intelligence (AI) technology for video-based behavioural analysis developed by Fujitsu Laboratories to recognise human behaviour and to improve the quality and efficiency of operations at manufacturing sites. In addition, Fujitsu will consider jointly developing an edge computing solution utilising 5G with Microsoft Japan from a global perspective.

Source: Fujitsu. Schematic showing how Fujitsu and Microsoft Japan worked together on the private 5G and cloud-based manufacturing system.

Private 5G gives enterprises the flexibility to construct and operate 5G networks in their own buildings and premises and is expected to be used for unmanned and remote controls at manufacturing sites. It does produce and rely on a large amount of sensor data and high-definition video to construct a system optimised for network and application processing load requirements.

For the initial verification, Fujitsu provided private 5G systems - base stations, core network equipment, and mobile terminals - as well as data collection and development of AI analysis applications. The company also built the system for visualising the operation status of facilities using COLMINA. Microsoft Japan provided Azure IoT Edge and Azure, and also supported the data collection and development of AI analysis applications.

Private 5G is utilised to transmit high-definition images of the movement of people and unmanned vehicles, and operation data from mobile terminals and servers to Azure IoT Edge.

*Azure IoT Edge was locally deployed, providing cloud intelligence on IoT edge devices

**COLMINA is a solution consolidating manufacturing data from design to manufacturing and maintenance.