Comment: The future of 6G empowered robotics

Back in the 1990s, people used to carry big, traditional cameras to capture photographs. It was only in the early 2000s when mobile phones with cameras were introduced and, within the next decade or so, traditional cameras were gradually replaced by smartphones as the primary device for capturing photos and videos. However, besides capturing photos and videos, smartphones could do a lot more, and that was only possible due to the evolution of wireless communication technologies.

The journey to 6G

From 1G and 2G, where users could only call and text with our phones, the world then moved on to 3rd and 4th generations, which supported multimedia applications and mobile internet. Fast forward to 2020, when 5G was introduced, that could provide very high speeds of up to 20Gbps and, therefore, could support massive broadband and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. However, despite offering high speeds and supporting large applications, 5G may not be able to support services, such as VR and high-quality 3D video, which require data rates of the order of terabits per second.

Thus, with fast growth of data-centric and automated systems, 5G may reach its limits around 2030, and a 6th generation wireless system will need to be developed with speeds of the order of Tbps, lower latency, higher throughput, and massive connectivity. 6G systems should not only continue the trends of the previous generations but should also be able to offer new services with new technologies such as autonomous vehicles, tactile internet, holography, and digital sensing, thus enabling a fully digital and connected world.

Transformative impact of 6G

With its peak data rate of 1Tbps and latency as low as 100us, 6G promises myriad applications and services that will open new technological possibilities for immersive, ubiquitous, and sensory digital experiences. When deployed at scale, 6G applications will transform the way people live.

Applications, such as advanced XR and holographic communication, will enable a new paradigm shift in the field of healthcare, education, industries, entertainment, and so on. It also has the potential to greatly reduce the need to travel for work, leisure, education, or healthcare therefore contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering a societal impact.

6G also provides high-speed and low-latency connectivity that is required to support real-time teleoperation of robots and other remote-controlled devices, allowing for more precise and effective control. Industrial robots will become more intelligent with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and 6G, as huge amounts of data can be handled and processed to provide spontaneous responses.  Plus, the high-density communication capabilities of 6G enable the management of a large number of robots and sensors together at the same time.

6G and robotics

With the advent of AI and machine learning (ML), and the proliferation of autonomous systems, robots will become more ingrained in societies and industries, including both consumer robots and complex industrial robots. Collaborative robots, equipped with AI algorithms, will enable agile and flexible manufacturing workflows, adapting in real time in response to changing demands and market dynamics. Thus, 6G will achieve intelligent manufacturing and, when combined with other technologies, can boost production efficiency.

Not only this, 6G will revolutionise the world of healthcare with the help of holographic communication, haptic technology, AI, augmented reality, and virtual reality. From remote patient monitoring to real-time telemedicine consultations, the ultra-low latency and high reliability of 6G will enable life-saving applications, such as remote surgery performed by robotic systems, guided by AI algorithms.

Another major application is smart cities. Smart cities require wide-area spectrum offering good capacity. 6G networks will combine ICT and an ultra-massive number of smart-physical devices to optimise daily life processes, such as home security, waste management, transportation systems, and traffic monitoring, to name a few.

Moreover, 6G empowered autonomous robots integrated into the urban landscape can provide smarter, more sustainable, and effective solutions in many areas, such as last-mile goods delivery, garbage collection, window cleaning, utility pipes inspection and repair, mobility, or police and security tasks.

By combining technologies, such as AI, augmented and virtual reality, mobile edge computing, massive MIMO, and quantum communications, together with 6G’s high connection density, ultra-high reliability communications, and large data rates, smart environments can be realised. This will allow technologies and services, such as autonomous cars and drones, to operate in a smart city.

Rising to future challenges

Although 6G standards and specifications are still under development and its opportunities are widespread, just like any other new technology, it has its challenges and barriers as well. For example, THz communications suffer from severe propagation loss and constrained communication over long distances. Minimising the energy consumption and carbon emissions is another major task.

Moreover, for 3D coverage, terrestrial and non-terrestrial technologies must be integrated to develop the 3D network architecture. Besides developing infrastructure, device capabilities should also be enhanced accordingly. Spectrum allocation, security, privacy, and AI-related challenges are also there.

Therefore, a combined effort is needed by researchers, scientists, academia, industry experts, and regulatory authorities to overcome these barriers, so that the potential offered by 6G can be turned into reality.

Ayesha Iqbal, senior member of the IEEE and engineering trainer at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre