Airtel, Volvo, and Ericsson Explore AI and XR for Smart Factories

Ericsson, Volvo Group, and Bharti Airtel revealed their collaboration in research to investigate the possibilities of extended reality (XR), digital twin technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) within the manufacturing industry.

The research initiative, taking place at the Volvo Group Factory and Volvo Group's research and development center in Bangalore, will investigate applications of the industrial metaverse.

The partnership would involve cooperation between humans and machines, showcasing scenarios that integrate the physical and digital worlds. Insights gained from this collaborative research will boost efficiency and encourage innovation in manufacturing, offering a digital platform for engaging training and immediate process improvement via the integration of advanced AI technologies.

Digital twin technology merges data from sensors, simulations, and machine learning to evaluate performance, predict failures, and enhance operations by generating a virtual representation of a physical system. It is regarded as a significant source of revenue for telecom firms from 5G services.

The initiative will involve the implementation and investigation of Airtel’s advanced 5G network as the basis for industrial XR applications. Airtel stated that 5G, with its extremely low latency and high-speed features, can facilitate unique connectivity for real-time simulations, design prototyping, and immersive training in various factory and industrial locations.