NTT DoCoMo and Keio University Haptics Research Center have announced that they have successfully conducted a demonstration of high-precision remote robot operation over commercial 5G.
By combining Configured Grant, a low-latency network slicing technology, with Keio’s Real Haptics technology, delicate force feedback and tactile sensations were transmitted stably.
This marks the world’s first demonstration of Configured Grant enabling practical robot teleoperation over commercial 5G.
In the experiment, Configured Grant was applied to the radio link between the terminal and base station to minimize latency and jitter. Results confirmed that latency requirements for practical teleoperation of Real Haptics robots were met, while force reproducibility and operability were improved.
To convey precise force feedback when a remote robot interacts with objects controlled by an operator at a distant location, mobile data communication must maintain low latency and minimal jitter.
High or fluctuating latency can disrupt synchronization between the operator and remote robot. This compromises the precise force reproduction of Real Haptics, hindering delicate robot operation.
DoCoMo and Keio University have previously collaborated on the development and testing of Real Haptics for robot teleoperation over mobile networks. By reducing the impact of latency in the wireless segment, highly precise and delicate remote robot control can now be performed stably even under network congestion.
Going forward, the two organizations will continue developing and testing technologies to accelerate the practical use of advanced robot teleoperation.
