This document explores industrial use cases and requirements of currently emerging integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technologies for future mobile networks. It begins by providing an overview of ISAC technologies and use cases that have been proposed in connection with standardization and research activities, and then describes ten potential industrial applications. Five specific industrial use cases are presented, including details of their functional and performance requirements. Key proposals for defining performance requirements are also presented while emphasizing the importance of having clear indices and a good understanding of sensing error distribution for ensuring reliable data.
The key insights of this whitepaper are the ten potential application of ISAC and five use cases which are described in details.
Human-robot interaction in factories is increasingly vital for modern manufacturing, involving coordination between humans, cobots (collaborative robots), and other robotic systems. Cobots are designed to complement human capabilities, handling repetitive, demanding, or precise tasks while working closely with humans. Unlike traditional robots confined to separate areas, cobots prioritize intuitive and seamless interaction.In industrial settings, traditional interfaces like touch panels and handheld devices may be impractical due to protective gloves, concurrent tasks, or noisy environments. Gesture-based interfaces provide a touchless, intuitive alternative for interacting with cobots. These interfaces rely on object detection and pattern recognition to interpret predefined gestures linked to specific actions, enabling efficient human-cobot collaboration. Gestures are categorized into hand and arm movements, body poses, head gestures, and facial expressions, allowing for nuanced communication. Gesture recognition systems must ensure security and data integrity to prevent unauthorized access and unsafe commands.
Vibration monitoring is vital in industrial environments to maintain machinery health and operational efficiency. Vibrations are caused by issues such as imbalances, misalignments, gear problems, and environmental factors, and can negatively impact factory and process automation, leading to equipment wear, misalignment, reduced product quality, and process disruptions.
ISAC offers a promising solution for vibration sensing in industrial settings, with several benefits:
1. Wireless RF signals enable contactless measurement, ideal for environments with high temperatures, hazards, or limited access.
2. Cost-effective and flexible: A single ISAC network can replace numerous vibration sensors, simplifying logistics, maintenance, and battery replacement.
3. Micro-Doppler effect in RF signals allows accurate vibration frequency measurement.
4. Multiple node measurements enhance accuracy and eliminate blind spots.
5. Penetration through materials enables vibration sensing even behind non-metallic covers.
6. Wider area coverage and improved responsiveness make ISAC suitable for large-scale industrial environments.
7. More robust than optical sensors, offering broad coverage, less maintenance, and the ability to detect vibrations through non-conductive materials.
8. Data analysis from ISAC can identify existing and potential future failures.
In a factory with an ISAC-enabled mobile network, RF signals measure vibrations, transmit data, and provide actionable insights for operators.
In industrial facilities, effective stockpile monitoring is essential for inventory management, safety, and operational optimization. It helps prevent overstocking and shortages, supports procurement and production planning, and ensures a consistent supply of raw materials. Monitoring stockpiles also aids in tracking material quantities and quality, addressing environmental compliance, and improving safety by preventing hazards like dust emissions or unstable piles.
ISAC technologies offer several benefits for stockpile monitoring:
1. Reliable operation in challenging conditions like rain, fog, dust, smoke, and darkness, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring.
2. Accurate measurements, essential for maintaining inventory levels, environmental compliance, and preventing safety hazards.
3. Continuous tracking of dynamic changes in stockpile conditions, allowing adaptation to fluctuations in utilization, supply chains, and environmental factors.
4. Integrated sensing and data transfer within the same network. This integration simplifies and increases the efficiency of data management.
Overall, ISAC enhances stockpile management, enabling more accurate, reliable, and efficient operations in diverse conditions.
In modern manufacturing, flexible production flows are crucial for meeting customer demands. The “Everything as a Service” (XaaS) model in smart factories integrates production systems, logistics, and staff management into a digital infrastructure, powered by a network and cloud platform. ISAC enhances this by continuously tracking the movements of humans, carts, and AGVs, improving safety and efficiency.
ISAC enables real-time monitoring of positions and movements, optimizing production flows, improving safety protocols, and resource management. Benefits include:
1. Improved productivity through data-driven decisions and optimization
2. Reduced downtimes by streamlining material movements
3. Accident prevention by maintaining safe distances between machinery and personnel.
ISAC technologies can significantly enhance industrial safety by preventing hazards that could harm workers or damage property. Safety in industrial facilities is a high priority, as accidents can lead to permanent harm or fatalities. Common safety risks include electrocution, collisions, falls, and overexposure to dangerous environments.
ISAC can detect these hazards and alert workers or request assistance if needed, such as in cases of falls or entrapment. By combining radio sensing from base stations with data from other sensors (e.g., cameras, gravity sensors), ISAC can monitor the environment, identify obstacles, and track worker movements.
The system works by establishing a baseline of normal conditions, then reporting anomalies to an application server for analysis. Base stations detect object position, size, or velocity but require additional sensors to gather information like environmental conditions, fire, gas leaks, or worker identity. For example, gravity sensors on workers can trigger alarms for falls, which are detected by nearby base stations.
Base stations and user equipment (UE) work together to monitor surroundings and worker presence, detecting obstacles, movements, and predicting actions to improve coordination. In emergencies, the system communicates critical data such as emergency alerts, locations, and optimal assistance routes.
By quickly detecting potential hazards and providing timely warnings, ISAC helps prevent accidents and minimize damage in industrial environments.
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