BAI said it will design, supply and install a 5G communications network at two of the Australian Meat Processor Corporation’s (AMPC) regional red meat processing facilities to enable smart verification technologies such as high-fidelity video streaming that can be used for remote auditing and compliance monitoring through computer vision technology.
Bondi Labs’ will use the network to support the development and testing of two use cases for what it describes as “the highly regulated red meat processing industry”: SmartInspect and SmartPack. SmartInspect allows meat processing employees, wearing live-video streaming glasses, to participate in remote audits and inspections, and undertake remote equipment maintenance and remote training, delivering significant savings in time and travel.
Meanwhile, SmartPack leverages the power of AI to identify different types of meat products and verify that carton contents exactly match carton labels. This technology reduces the potential for human error by being able to correctly identify a wide range of symbols, including languages that use special characters, such as Mandarin and Japanese.
The two-month trial will demonstrate the benefits of in-building coverage using low power 5G access points and moving computing traffic and services closer to processing plant operators by using multi-access edge computing, all within a private 5G network. BAI claimed it devised a rigorous test plan that, in addition to negating the connectivity problems of being in a regional location, also allows for the extreme temperatures and enormous number of mechanical obstructions typically part of a meat processing plant set up.
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Bondi Labs’ research and engagement manager Dr. Stuart Smith said, “The trial is important in assessing the use of 5G technology within a processing plant, as well as from a processing plant to an external party. Work being progressed by Bondi Labs to match carton labels with products in the box requires a stable and high-bandwidth internet connection which is enabled by BAI Communications’ solution.”
The trial forms part of the Australian Government’s ‘5G Innovation Initiative’ which provides businesses with opportunities to trial and test 5G applications that demonstrate 5G’s capability and benefits across a range of industry sectors and locations.
Nick Gurney, director of telecommunications at BAI Australia, said, “The trial is an opportunity to showcase ever-advancing Industry 4.0 digital technologies that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to better support the industry through advanced interconnectivity, automation and machine learning.
“BAI’s private 5G network solution is a viable, future-proof technology that will deliver the connectivity regional meat processors and other industries need to realise the significant benefits and savings enabled by 5G use cases and Bondi Labs’ innovations. Meat manufacturing is one of this country’s largest manufacturing and agricultural export industries, vital to the Australian economy.”
