5G Transformation Hub
5G Enables the world’s first remote-controlled high-lift wheel loader
Genesis in the mining industry
An SCA timber terminal in Northern Sweden has demonstrated the use of 5G technology to provide the ultra-reliable connectivity required to enable greater automation for timber handling. The trial tested how enhanced 5G connectivity can be used to remotely-control a high-lift wheel loader across all the timber terminals in Sweden to develop safer and more productive timber processes and explore the potential of 5G as an enabler for automation.
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Contents
Challenge
Inspired by the level of automation and remote control in today’s mining operations, the challenge was to investigate how these technologies could be applied in a forestry context. Forestry management is a significantly more complex environment than mining, since the movement and loading of logs requires more precision than does gravel in a mine.
Solution
SCA has trialled a 5G-based remote control high-lift wheel loader at a timber terminal located in North Sweden in Timra municipality. The solution harnesses time- sensitive networking (TSN) coordinated multi-point 5G connectivity, and 5G precise positioning to control an assisted guided vehicle (AGV). The timber loader, a converted Volvo L180 high-lift equipped with connected cameras and sensors, was remotely controlled from a control station at a location 400km away.
Impact & Statistics
The project demonstrated that the remote control of forestry high loaders enabled by 5G can unlock significant benefits including up to significant efficiency improvement, more flexible operations, the potential for high-lift drivers with certain medical conditions to return to work and also the potential to reduce CO2 emissions. The solution has the potential to transform the cost effectiveness of smaller timber handling terminals and to extend the working hours of terminals.
Wider Implications
The 5G-enabled and remote controlled high-lifter demonstrates that remote control and automation concepts pioneered in mining can be extended to more complex contexts. The project is a first step towards fully automated supply chains for timber. With an increased number of remotely operated timber loading terminals operating at more flexible times of day, transportation networks for collecting the timber can be better optimised so unlocking sustainability benefits. In the medium term, transportation between terminals can potentially be supported by autonomous vehicles.
Stakeholders
Biometria, Mid Sweden University, SCA (Svenska Cellulosa AB), Skogforsk, Telia Company, and Volvo Construction Equipment.
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5G remote controlled high-lift wheel loader
Genesis in the mining industry
Many of today’s open mines rely heavily on remote controlled equipment, particularly including trucks for transportation of gravel and other mined materials. The forestry environment, meanwhile, is considerably more complex since timber and wood must be handled with much more precision than mined materials. Advanced materials management in the mining industry has however highlighted the potential for forestry loading sites to adopt similar technologies.
The purpose of SCA’s trial with Mid Sweden University was to demonstrate how the concepts of remote control and 5G communications could be deployed to support a more efficient flow of timber through loading sites and to investigate how the technologies could be adopted further across their entire estate of loading sites.
An SCA timber terminal in Torsboda, in Timrå municipality in Northern Sweden, was chosen to demonstrate the use of 5G technology to provide the ultra-reliable connectivity required to enable greater automation for timber handling. The trial tested how enhanced 5G connectivity can be used to remotely-control a high-lift wheel loader across all the timber terminals in Sweden to develop safer and more productive timber processes and explore the potential of 5G as an enabler for automation.
An important aim of this project was to explore a vehicle operator’s perspective to make remote operation a user-friendly and efficient experience. Because each load of timber is so varied (from an unwieldly pile of heavy logs through to just a few short pieces of wood) it is vital that the lifting process is carried out with accuracy and precise handling. The test explored how to mature the various supporting technologies and gathered vital feedback from the operators on the optimum placement of cameras for handling precision.
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5G was a crucial enabler for the solution
For the solution, Volvo Construction Equipment remodelled and equipped an L180 High-lift wheel loader with connected cameras and sensors that make it possible to control the machine remotely over a 5G network, supplemented by a dedicated and local network that Telia has built at SCA´s terminal.
Through the 5G technology, all data is sent with low latency, which is critical in order to be able to carry out remote control with precision and in a safe manner and so that a remote operator can have almost the same experience as if they were in the driver’s cab.
The 5G network was supported by the use of a temporary base station as might be used to provide temporary coverage for a sporting event and was configured as an extension of Telia’s existing 5G public network. The use of 5G technology was critical since 4G technologies were unable to meet the solution design constraints, in particular the need for immediate feedback between operator and machine and the transmission of on-board CCTV video images would push available 4G data rates to the limit, leaving little flexibility to accommodate any degradations in a connectivity link. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi was unsuitable for the dynamic operating environment as presented by a loading location.
The new 5G-network was deployed using the 3.5 GHz band that Telia acquired in Sweden’s 5G auction early 2021. The frequency band provides more capacity, higher data speeds and lower latency, crucial for industrial services demanding high and secure connectivity for critical assets as remote control and industrial automation.
In parallel with the technical development work, two experienced operators evaluated factors such as camera views, camera placement, manoeuvring and ergonomics. The study showed that the driver's working environment can be improved with remote control. The operators found it relatively easy to view their remote ‘surroundings’, sat comfortably and quickly managed the lifting process with precision. The fact that the work environment became more accessible and ergonomic also means that the often physically challenging work can be made possible for more people, potentially including those with disabilities.
Magnus Leonhardt
Director, Head of Business Development & Innovation at Telia
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Unlocking efficiency, social and sustainability benefits
The results of the project showed that there is a potential to reduce costs through remote control of timber loading.
The potential was greatest at night and when throughput volumes were low, since with a remote driver able to potentially cover multiple sites the availability of a driver could be guaranteed without the driver needing to be present (and underutilised during quieter periods). Overall, the project demonstrated potential for significant efficiency improvement during the day and greater savings at night compared to when the driver is in the machine.
Additionally, the remote control of machines can solve specific problems in the industry, such as safety and security related challenges and the staffing of locations in remote areas. For instance, drivers do not need to get into and out of the vehicles, so avoiding fall risks and also allowing drivers with certain medical conditions to again drive vehicles. Also, drivers need no-longer be exposed to noise and vibrations from machines.
Meanwhile the overall timber loading function can become more flexible, as it becomes economic to provide timber handling services in remote locations and at quieter times of day or at night. Such flexibility will ultimately enable more efficient routing in timber transportation networks, so reducing mileage travelled and fuel consumption and unlocking sustainability benefits.
The experience with remote driving has also highlighted, and provided solutions to, some historic challenges such as the inability of drivers to see certain angles from a vehicle cab which has traditionally meant that a second worker would need to stand next to a high-lift vehicle to provide guidance to the driver.
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A complex task in a difficult environment results in new challenges
Challenges associated with the project include the need to transport high volumes of data very reliably and with very low latency between the remote site and the driver located in a control centre.
Multiple CCTV feeds are required to provide different views from the driving position in the machine, and also to cover angles that have traditionally been blind spots for any on-board driver. Meanwhile, because each load of timber is so varied (from an unwieldly pile of heavy logs through to just a few short pieces of wood) it is vital that the lifting process is carried out with accuracy and precise handling
A particular challenge encountered was that raw timber was found to be particularly effective at damping cellular radio signals, and so network coverage needed to be based on a line-of-site requirement. Also, in remote locations there can be a lack of access to high-speed fibre connections to support transmission of data between the local 5G network and a the remote control centre.
Also, in connection with the potential commercialisation of the remote timber concept, several laws and regulations must be adhered to, in particular, the Swedish Work Environment Act, the Machinery Directive and the Convention on Road Traffic. The Swedish Work Environment Act and Machinery Directive place significant requirements on procedures and security for machines and their systems, but also on the working area with the purpose of controlling who may be present. This primarily aims to prevent accidents in which people may come to harm.
Magnus Leonhardt
Director, Head of Business Development & Innovation at Telia
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Extending the test and planning for the future
Next steps for the project include the refinement of certain key aspects of the remote-control solution.
The trial demonstrated that, when compared to an experienced driver on-board, aspects of loading related to approaching the load and gripping the load took longer when high-lifts were controlled remotely. The team is considering developing a haptic feedback mechanism to assist with accurate control of the remote high-lift.
The project also highlighted the need to be able to guarantee physical security on site, preventing access by unauthorised persons. Further measures will also be required to ensure cyber security (including encryption and a dedicated virtual private network). Geofencing should be applied to further enhance security, both guarding against theft and unauthorised usage of equipment.
Biometria has also carried out an analysis of the overall market in Sweden, where there is an even greater potential for cost reductions through the inclusion of several logging and forestry companies in a common centre.
Meanwhile, Volvo Construction Equipment has used the trial to test its teleoperation platform in a new application with high precision requirements and learn how the system needs to be designed to meet industry needs across a variety of segments from mining to urban construction. Insights from partial manual and tele-operated management gained in this forestry context will enable Volvo to take further steps towards automation in more complex processes. By remote-controlling processes like timber lifting (which are currently too complex to be fully automated) tele-operation becomes an important enabler for automation, allowing for a more gradual integration of automated processes for technology adopters.
Christian Spjutare
Advanced Engineering Program Manager at Volvo CE
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