LG Uplus said on March 10 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Potenit, a company specializing in the development of unmanned automation robots, to "cooperate with 5G-based smart port logistics automation business."
The company will establish a solution that combines the unmanned and automated technologies of logistics facilities owned by Potenit and 5G technologies of LG Uplus and jointly push for related projects.
Specifically, LG Uplus will cooperate on upgrading self-driving technologies for 5G-based unmanned facilities, linking unmanned facilities with 5G network infrastructure, establishing a control system based on Mobile Edge Computing, and remote control of unmanned facilities based on ultra-low delay video transmission technology.
The two companies will plan services for unmanned automation of port logistics facilities during the first half of the year, and analyze logistics facilities and environment at the site in the second half to clarify available services.
Based on this, the company plans to gradually apply actual research and development and implemented technologies starting from next year to verify the service.
When logistics automation is commercialized, a number of logistics facilities within the port will transport containers on self-driving cars without manual manipulation, and control centers will be able to monitor and remote control with a small number of people through 5G communications.
It is expected that the operation efficiency of smart ports through cost reduction will be increased and safety accidents occurring at field sites will be prevented in advance.
We will actively seek to verify related technologies and commercialize them so that domestic ports can be transformed into smart ports," said Seo Jae-yong, executive vice president of convergence business at LG Uplus.
Meanwhile, LG Uplus has been demonstrating the world's first smart port operation based on the 5G commercial network since August last year at Busan Port. It is pushing for "5G Smart Port" projects by completing linkage of self-driving and logistics systems by the end of this year and preparing for commercialization next year.