Spanish Pilot-Enabling remote field management through teleoperation and sensor equipped vehicles
- Sustainability Aspects: Immersive Telepresence Actuator for Field Operations
- Targeted Vertical: Smart Agriculture
- Partners:
- University of Malaga/CSIC: Use Case leader
- Telefonica: Telecom operator
- University of Malaga/ Hewlett Packard: Testbed Providers
- Hidralia: End user
The scope of the Spanish Use Case is to enable a field manager’s remote presence at various locations through teleoperation and data collection using sensor-equipped vehicles.
Motivation and challenges:
With the growing need for efficient and accurate management of field operations in sectors such as agriculture, the aim is to overcome geographical barriers and improve productivity. Leveraging immersive technologies, remote operators are allowed to “teleport” into the field, experiencing real-time sensor feedback and interacting with the environment and people present there. This immersive telepresence not only improves operational efficiency, but also reduces the need for physical travel, which lowers costs, minimizes environmental impact and improves safety for personnel working in remote or hazardous locations. However, several challenges must be addressed. First, it is crucial to ensure communication with the 6G network. This involves meeting traffic requirements (e.g. low latency or high throughput) to provide real-time information and perform operations in the field. Second, the design and integration of the necessary software/hardware is critical to provide this “telepresence” in the field to the remote operator. Finally, addressing the privacy and security issues of the equipment involved is paramount.
Solutions/Trial scenarios to address the challenges
In this context the Spanish use case utilizes immersive technology to provide researchers, growers, or workers with a sense of presence in experimental or production fields. This is achieved through a vehicle equipped with sensors and actuators, such as an AGV or drone, capable of remote control. The vehicle provides a telepresence experience closer to being physically present than traditional cameras, enabling collection of physical samples and field modifications, and interacting with local workers. In La Mayora, a CSIC experimental station, the vehicle collects data from various sensors deployed in the field, aiding in crop assessment and irrigation decision-making. Similarly, in Roquetas de Mar, the focus is on optimizing water distribution in a wastewater treatment plant using network slicing and 5G connectivity provided by TID. Drones monitor water quality parameters and assist in decision-making by transmitting data over the 6G network for real-time analysis. Additionally, a portable network (Amarisoft) and satellite communications (Starlink) are available for areas lacking commercial network coverage. The high-level architecture is depicted in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Spanish Use Case Diagram
The main 6G-VERSUS application components (app triplet) are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: 6G-VERSUS application components for Spanish use case
| V-apps | (1) provide a sense of "teleportation" of the vehicle (AGV or drone) equipped with multiple sensors while it is being remotely controlled using immersive technology, as well as; (2) collecting information from the different sensors deployed on the field and (3) communicating with local workers |
|---|---|
| AI-apps | (1) analysis of the data collected to assist in potentially making necessary decisions in real time; (2) increase the operational efficiency of interventions in remote areas or improve the quality of metrics related to natural resources (crops or water). |
| N-Apps | (1) facilitating communication with the network and coordination between relevant actions e.g. the configuration of specific network parameters to provide the expected QoS; (2) prioritization of critical traffic (e.g. remote control) in comparison to others such as sensor readings will be taken into account. |
As sustainability is of vital importance in 6G-VERSUS, the main sustainability challenges are summarized together with the expected outcomes of this use case in Table 2.
Table 2: Main sustainability challenges and expected outcomes for Spanish use case.
| Main Sustainability Challenges |
|---|
| (1) facilitating communication with the network and coordination between relevant actions e.g. the configuration of specific network parameters to provide the expected QoS; (2) prioritization of critical traffic (e.g. remote control) in comparison to others such as sensor readings will be taken into account. |
| 2) Widely accessible technology enables researchers worldwide to participate in field monitoring and research, overcoming geographical constraints and fostering inclusivity in agricultural studies. |
| 3) Improved collaboration among teams and institutions across distant locations enhances knowledge exchange and cross-disciplinary cooperation, driving innovation and advancements in agricultural practices |
| Expected Outcomes |
| 1) Creation of a tool that allows to scale up the way a farmer can manage the farm for large areas. Therefore, there is a decline in the operation costs and environmental impact by using renewable resources optimally. |
| 2) Improved devices-network communication to meet traffic requirements for remote operation and field performance. |