Smart Homes, 5G Bikes, Robots and Flying Cars at MWC 2024
Over the past few years, the Internet of Things (IoT) industry is developing at an extremely fast pace. Unless you live in a cave, you’re probably already convinced that the famous quote “software is eating the world” is true with more and more areas of the economy and society digitizing at high speed.
And there is no other place where this trend can be seen more clearly than at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), which takes place every spring in Barcelona. Started as a forum for mobile operators, today it brings together telecoms and manufacturers of cellular equipment and smartphones, but also companies for connected homes, cars, telemedicine, consumer electronics and dozens of other areas of the economy.
IoT and blockchain were in the spotlight at this year’s MWC with hundreds of companies in those fields, presented in Barcelona. On the whole the 24’ edition attracted more than 101,000 visitors in the beautiful city from February 26 to March 1, including heads of state, ministers, heads of regulators, startups, artists and journalists.
The event was peppered with sessions, demonstrations, and discussions focused on 5G and other network technologies, the smart home, connected cars, robots and drones, Artificial Intelligence, and of course – Internet of Things. Here’s the most interesting IoT stuff during MWC24.
5G IoT Summit – Making IoT Work for Customers
The vast potential of 5G for the Internet of Things (IoT) took center stage at a dedicated summit during MWC Barcelona 2024. Titled “5G IoT Summit: Making IoT work for Customers,” the session brought together key players in the industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with bringing 5G-powered IoT solutions to life.
5G promises significant advancements for IoT, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect a massive number of devices. This opens doors for innovative applications across various sectors, from smart cities and industrial automation to connected healthcare and remote monitoring.
Richard Cockle, Head of Programme – Identity, GSMA opened the event with an introductory lecture, highlighting the importance of IoT for customers. After him, Dr. Philip Schulte, Executive Director of Giesecke+Devrient Mobile Security, examined the IoT business model, as well as the main issues with coverage, global scaling, and security. He emphasized that IoT connectivity providers must provide everything from SIM technology to connectivity, lifecycle management, devices, and full IoT solutions.
A panel discussion was also held on the topic “How will the Satellite work with Cellular LWPAN?”, which examined new LEO satellite solutions that will enhance 5G IoT technologies and increase coverage for IoT solutions.
The Rise of “Lights-Out” Smart Factories
The future of manufacturing was a hot topic at MWC Barcelona 2024, with a dedicated summit focusing on the rise of “lights-out” smart factories. This session, titled “Manufacturing Summit: The lights are out, but the robots are home. Deploying the smart factory,” brought together industry leaders to discuss the key technologies and strategies driving the adoption of these highly automated production facilities.
A “lights-out” factory signifies a manufacturing environment that operates with minimal human intervention, relying heavily on automation and robotics. This approach promises significant benefits, including increased efficiency, reduced production costs, and improved safety for workers.
The summit featured presentations from experts at companies like CTOne (a subsidiary of Trend Micro), Verizon, Petronas, and Telefonica. These industry leaders delved into the specific technologies enabling “lights-out” factories, including: Industrial Robots, Machine Vision, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. The discussion also highlighted the critical role of 5G connectivity in powering these smart factories.
Smart Home and Connected Car from Xiaomi
During the MWC in Barcelona Xiaomi introduced several new products, including new smartphones, its first connected car SU7 and smart home solutions. All of them are united by Xiaomi’s own HyperOS, which plays a key role in the company’s “Human X Car X Home” unified smart ecosystem concept. It focuses on four main goals: Comprehensive Refactoring, Cross-Device Intelligent Connectivity, Proactive Intelligence, and End-to-End Security.
Xiaomi SU7 – the company’s first electric sedan – was long awaited by the audience and attracted a lot of attention during the mobile show in Barcelona, underlining Xiaomi’s ambitions to enter the automotive industry.
Connected Flying Taxi
MWC attendees witnessed the future of urban transportation, as Joby Aviation showcased its revolutionary electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This marks the second time Joby has displayed its innovative air taxi model in Europe, partnering with South Korea’s leading telecommunications company, SK Telecom.
For four days, attendees had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Joby aircraft. This included detailed examinations of the exterior and experiencing the interior cabin designed to comfortably seat five passengers.
This electric air taxi promises a quieter and faster way to navigate congested cities. Joby envisions these eVTOLs being integrated into existing transportation networks, offering a seamless and time-saving travel option.
The partnership between Joby and SK Telecom signifies a significant step towards introducing this technology in South Korea. SK Telecom has not only invested $100 million in Joby Aviation, but also secured exclusive use of the aircraft for the country’s “K-UAM” (Korean Urban Air Mobility) initiative. This project aims to establish a robust urban air mobility ecosystem within South Korea.
The successful presentation at Mobile World Congress highlights the growing interest in electric air taxis as a viable solution for urban transportation challenges. Joby’s innovative design and strategic partnerships position them as a frontrunner in this emerging market.
The First 5G Connected Bike
Orbic has unveiled during the MWC the world’s first 5G-enabled eBike, setting a new standard for technology integration in cycling. This groundbreaking innovation boasts not only 5G connectivity but also cutting-edge AI object detection, promising a safer and more connected cycling experience.
The Orbic 5G eBike leverages the power of 5G to provide riders with real-time data and enhanced connectivity features. Imagine having access to high-speed navigation, seamless music streaming, and instant accident alerts – all while you ride. The possibilities for future advancements with 5G integration are vast, opening doors for features like real-time traffic updates and integration with smart city infrastructure.
But the true game-changer lies in the bike’s AI object detection system. This intelligent technology utilizes onboard cameras and machine learning to detect obstacles and potential hazards on the road, like pedestrians or vehicles. The system can then alert the rider through visual or haptic signals, promoting increased awareness and reaction time.
Ameca Humanoid Robot
Last but not least, the humanoid robot Ameca was introduced on Etisalat’s booth. It was one of the stars of the show and attracted many visitors, using OpenAI’s large language model GPT 4 to conduct conversations like a human.