Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/1436355
I DA U N I V E R S A L N ove m b e r - D e ce m b e r 2 0 2 1 36 NUTS & BOLTS continued from page 35 Volvo Construction Equipment is test-operating a remote-controlled wheel loader over a 5G network in a forestry applica- tion. Volvo suggests that the application may help improve safety and productivity in timber operations. e research project, Remote Timber, is a collabora- tion between Volvo, telecom operator Telia, timber and paper manufacturer SCA, Mid University Sweden, Skogforsk, and Biometria. A test at SCA's timber terminal in Torsboda, Sweden, demonstrated that a Volvo L180 high-li wheel loader could be operated remotely, hundreds of kilometers away. e test incorporated a closed 5G network, which provided low latency that allowed opera- tors to perform the loader operations. Volvo suggests that remote-controlled forestry operations will deliver improved productivity by allowing one operator to work across multiple, and sometimes isolated, sites. It is also expected to make it safer – by removing humans from potentially hazardous environ- ments – and more sustainable through more effi cient logistics fl ows as the loading and unloading of timber can also be done during the night. "We expect tele-operation to open up far greater oppor- tunities for operators than are currently available," said Christian Spjutare, Advanced Engineering Program Manager at Volvo CE, in a prepared statement. "Sometimes it can be diffi- cult to hire people in timber terminals because of their remote locations. But tele- operation allows people to work from any location, no matter the distance, making it a more desirable work setting, with the added advantage of more efficient and sustainable work logistics." Said Magnus Leonhardt, director, head of business development and innovation at Telia, in a statement: " is partnership is a fi ne example of how remote control with the latest technology can contribute to more effi cient and sustainable construc- tion solutions in the forestry industry. A secure and robust digital infrastructure is crucial for this. e unique technical qualities that 5G off ers are also entirely critical, in which extremely quick response times and high capacity enable immediate feedback between operator and machine, which is a prerequisite for being able to safely control machines remotely." How to improve remote control operations Volvo says the research project will explore what is Volvo Puts 5G to Test with Remote Control Loader