Ericsson, Volvo Group, and Airtel are teaming up to conduct research on the use of Extended Reality (XR), Digital Twin technologies and AI in manufacturing. The project utilizes 5G and 5G Advanced to aid the industrial process, improve workforce training, and optimize operations in real-time.
At the Volvo Group Factory and R&D Center in Bengaluru, the research will focus on developing applications for the Industrial Metaverse and will examine how human-machine interaction and cooperation can merge the physical and digital worlds.
The research is likely to increase manufacturing productivity as it will create a digital platform for immersive training and improvement of processes in real-time, supported by AI technologies.
Nitin Bansal, Managing Director of Ericsson India, stated, “By combining our network technology expertise with advanced XR applications, we are creating an ecosystem that will reshape manufacturing. The insights gained will be crucial in driving industrial digitalization, both in India and globally.” A key aspect of the partnership is the use of Airtel’s advanced 5G network to support industrial XR applications, enabling real-time simulations and production optimizations without disrupting ongoing operations.
According to Airtel Business Director and CEO Sharat Sinha, the telecom operator’s high-speed, low-latency 5G network will revolutionize the manufacturing sector by enabling real-time XR applications, opening up new revenue opportunities. The collaboration will also help propel the industry toward Industry 4.0, offering telcos the chance to unlock new business models and revenue streams.
Volvo Group India’s President and MD, Kamal Bali, highlighted that the combination of 5G and XR applications will foster innovation and collaboration across their industrial and R&D sites, powered by advanced AI technologies to enable real-time communication and digitalization.