Qualcomm Makes A 5G Network Chipset For Drones

Illustrated Drone (Doc. Qualcomm)

JAKARTA - Many think that 5G technology is only for smartphone devices. But now with Qualcomm's new innovation RB5 chipset, 5G technology can be maximally applied to the development of robots and drones.

Quoting Forbes, Thursday, June 18, the mobile chip maker from San Diego, California, United States (US) yesterday introduced the first 5G system with hardware, software and tools for sophisticated robots.

The Qualcomm Robotics RB5 chipset uses a new QRB5165 processor specifically for robots, and has a companion module for 4G LTE and 5G connectivity via the Qualcomm X55 modem, which is also used in today's smartphones.

Please note, the RB5 chipset has artificial intelligence (AI) which functions to create a super smart, fast and responsive machine, also designed to consume a small amount of power (relatively).

Qualcomm expects the new RB5 powered engine to be present for the consumer, corporate, defense, industrial and professional services sectors. At least 20 companies have seen the technology earlier and are likely to use it.

That includes LG with its drone products, Skydio, a security robot maker, its Meitun innovation NXT Robotics working on delivery robots and drones in China and Siasun, which is building a ping pong robot, Pongbot.

And more than 30 hardware and software companies are working on adjacent technologies to activate their various robotic applications. They include drone mapper AirMap, publisher Ubuntu Canonical, robot fleet manager InOrbit, Panasonic and Intel's RealSense business, which makes depth and tracking cameras.

Wireless technology has huge implications for robots, automobiles, medical devices, retail, and nearly every layer of industry in the world needs it. 5G technology can connect streetlights and other devices that haven't been connected to the internet before, with sensors everywhere constantly connecting.

According to an ABI Research report from last year, robotics and drones are big opportunities for Qualcomm and 5G. There will be 60 million such machines in use this year, and that number will double by 2025.

However, RB5 is not the only Qualcomm chipset for robots. Last year, the company introduced its first dedicated processor system for future technology, the Qualcomm Robotics RB3. RB3 itself operates on 4G LTE.

Even before the RB3 entered the market, the company was already using Qualcomm's technology in their devices. The Sony Aibo robot dog and Panasonic vacuum cleaner iRobot packs in the technology.

But by customizing special processors for robots and drones, Qualcomm is better able to answer their specific needs. When introducing the RB3, Qualcomm said it hopes its system will enable new robots in agriculture, consumer, shipping, inspection, service, smart manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, and other areas.

For information, the new RB5 chipset will be embedded in more advanced machines such as autonomous vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, delivery robots and drones, collaboration robots, and machines designed for inventory and industrial purposes.