NTT Group and TAISEI CORPORATION Successfully Demonstrate Remote Operation and Automated Control of Multiple Pieces of Heavy Machinery Using the IOWN APN, Local 5G, and 60 GHz-Band Wireless LAN

— Enabling improved productivity through control of heavy machinery from different manufacturers via a single remote control console —

News Highlights:

Background

In recent years, the construction industry has faced increasingly serious challenges, including skilled labor shortages and long working hours. In response, efforts to automate construction process through autonomous operation, remote operation, and the utilization of construction data have been accelerating. However, as remote operation and automated control of heavy machinery become more advanced, there is a growing need for real-time operability and accurate depth perception enabled by low-latency, low-jitter communications.

Heavy machinery that moves within worksites requires last-mile wireless connectivity. At the same time, ensuring stable operation of autonomously controlled machinery and robots across large-scale sites presents additional challenges, including the need to build wireless environments capable of providing wide-area coverage with sufficient bandwidth to transmit high-definition video from multiple angles.

Overview of the Demonstration

During the period from February 2, 2026 to February 27, 2026, two sites were connected via the IOWN APN: a remote operations site equipped with a remote operation and automated control system and a connection switching system, and a demonstration site where three pieces of heavy machinery were deployed. Furthermore, at the demonstration site, the wireless environment was configured by establishing a local 5G network for automated control, providing high-capacity coverage across a wide area of approximately 300 meters, and a WiGig-based wireless network for remote operation to enable low-jitter transmission of multiple camera feeds and control signals.

Under this environment, it was demonstrated that a full sequence of operations, including excavation and loading using a hydraulic excavator, transportation using a crawler-type dump truck, and grading using a bulldozer, can be carried out entirely through remote operation and automated control. It was also confirmed that stable remote operation is achievable even during long-distance movement of heavy machinery.

Figure 1. Remote operation and automated control of three pieces of heavy machinery using the IOWN APN, local 5G, and WiGig

Technical Highlights

(1) Automation of coordinated construction process using multiple pieces of machinery enabled by the low-latency, deterministic latency IOWN APN

By leveraging the IOWN APN, which offers low latency and deterministic latency, together with TAISEI's connection switching system, it was confirmed that tasks typically performed by three operators using multiple pieces of heavy machinery can be executed by a single operator through remote operation and automated control.

It was also demonstrated that MC (machine control)*2 and MG (machine guidance)*3 functions, which support operators in remote operation, can be utilized with accuracy equivalent to conventional use within the same site.

In addition, in the creation of design data used for MC and MG, the IOWN APN was used to transfer large volumes of existing terrain data obtained via drone aerial imaging. This reduced transmission time to approximately one-eighth of conventional methods and enabled more efficient workflows, from the creation of 3D design data in the office to on-site implementation, contributing to improved productivity.

(2) Remote operation and automated control of heavy machinery with long-distance movement and swing operations enabled by local 5G and WiGig

A local 5G network was deployed to provide high-capacity wireless coverage across the entire demonstration site, spanning approximately 300 meters. By transmitting GNSS-based positioning data of the machinery to the remote site, it was confirmed that continuous control of heavy machinery is possible across the site without communication interruptions.

For remote operation of heavy machinery in specific areas, WiGig devices equipped with site diversity technology*4 developed by NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories were utilized as the wireless network to achieve low-latency and low-jitter transmission of camera feeds and control signals. This enabled end-to-end network performance, including wired segments, with latency on the order of several milliseconds and jitter on the order of several tens of microseconds. As a result, it was confirmed that heavy machinery movement and swing operations can be performed while transmitting more real-time video compared to conventional methods.

In addition, by using WiGig to replace the LAN segment, it was confirmed that the construction of the wireless network between the site office and the worksite, which previously required a full day of work, can be completed efficiently in approximately one hour.

Roles and Responsibilities

Future Outlook

Based on the results of this demonstration, further field trials are planned for FY2026 at sites such as large-scale land development projects. In FY2027, application of remote operation and automated control to sediment management measures for dams under TAISEI's Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program Phase 3 initiatives is targeted.

Joint studies toward on-site implementation will continue, with the aim of promoting the adoption of construction process automation and contributing to the resolution of challenges such as labor shortages.

[Glossary]

^*1WiGig
Short for Wireless Gigabit. A wireless LAN standard based on IEEE 802.11ad that uses the 60 GHz frequency band.

^*2MC (Machine Control)
A system that automatically or semi-automatically controls machine operation based on the position of construction machinery and the difference between the design data of the construction site and the position of the working equipment.

^*3MG (Machine Guidance)
A system that supports operators by presenting the difference between the position of construction machinery and the design data of the construction site relative to the position of the working equipment.

^*4Site Diversity Technology
A terminal-driven switching control technology in which multiple wireless modules are installed within a wireless device.
https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/2022/02/25/220225a.html

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