Today, Curtin University and Optus launched Western Australia’s first 5G lab.
During the proceedings Minister for Disability Services; Fisheries; Innovation and ICT, the Hon. Don Punch MLA briefly recalled his time as a CEO in the telecommunications sector when he worked with 3G, amazed at how far we’ve now come.
5G should have a transformative impact on research, it was stressed, with an accompanying showcase of medical, imaging, and robotics systems on show a testament to what was on the horizon.
Baxter robot remote interaction
The technology showcase demonstrated the potential of 5G connectivity to deliver remote robot interaction and operation.
Achieved through retrofitting of an existing two-arm android-like robot, a camera picked up the movements of the operator, which was transferred by 5G to the robot which mimicked the movements.
Remote monitoring of brain activity
“You could go home from the hospital the same day, and the doctor would be able to continue monitoring your condition,” researchers told Startup News.
The project is a called a mobile subdural EEG recording device, a device that helps monitor the brain of a patient for epileptic events.
5G mobile communication from the EEG device will enable the dense EEG signals to be transmitted and processed at the edge of the network to deliver real-time responses for the clinician.
Worker safety and PPE detection
As everyone stood around two screens and cameras, the devices monitored whether people were wearing hard hats or a face mask. The device is accurate enough to determine whether the face mask is being worn properly or just under the nose.
Remote training of Guide Dogs
This project aims to remotely train vision-impaired people in use of guide dogs. Multiple IOT sensors, microphones and cameras will be placed on the guide dog harness and 5G technologies and the bandwidth provided by 5G will be utilized to transmit the telemetry, vocal and video data from the operational site to the base station to be displayed on a VR headset.
Visual Immersive platform for remote learning assisted by 5G
The visual and immersive platform will enable the most remote person to engage with quality learning.
VIT∞L is used in the area of pharmacology, demonstrating this platform at the event was the project EYE HEAR YOUR RHYTHM which enables visualisation of effects of light as well as drugs administered directly to the eye via drops or intravenously in the arm.