5G is a hot topic, but 4G module application data is still rising

According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as of the end of August 2020, the total number of mobile phone users of the three major operators reached 1.598 billion, of which 4G users accounted for 1.29 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. From public data, it can be estimated that 4G users currently account for more than 80% of the market.

Even though 5G has frequently become a hot topic and has gradually been put into commercial use, actual data tells us that 4G is still the mainstream in the current market. Similar to the user share, 4G applications have basically spread to all walks of life, and industry is a key application field that cannot be ignored.

The role of 4G modules in industrial intelligent automation control

In industrial applications, 4G is widely used in various industrial intelligent automation control equipment in the form of modules. Through the application of 4G modules, not only can remote communication be carried out to control and monitor sensor industrial robots in real time, but also the encrypted data channel collection and transmission of the manufacturing enterprise intranet can be realized through the 4G industrial wireless router, or the 4G DTU serial port RS485/RS232 can be used to directly transmit data back to the server, and the controller's command record fault information can be collected and filtered through the production monitoring room platform software.

In these processes, 4G modules are often used in corresponding industrial intelligent automation control equipment to achieve the above functions. Take the industrial all-in-one machine in the industrial robot console as an example. Robot action instruction programming, operation status and data, automatic reset, fault warning, etc. are all set and fed back in real time through the all-in-one machine in the console. At this time, the application of 4G modules is shown in the industrial all-in-one machine.

Industrial integrated machines can be equipped with different 4G modules for different needs

In the field of industrial intelligent automation control, industrial all-in-one computers (also called industrial tablet computers) not only control industrial robots, but also cover almost all the heavy machinery control equipment, automated production lines, industrial big data collection, production visualization, quality inspection and other links required for production and manufacturing. As for the application of 4G modules, based on Chuxiang Intelligent's many years of industry application experience, industrial all-in-one computers generally use five-mode full-network 4G modules, which can meet the needs of most users.

Based on the original properties of the five-mode full-network 4G module, in the application of industrial integrated machines, it can support GSM, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, TD LTE, FDD LTE network communications, 3G/4G mobile networks, and has transmission characteristics such as high-speed transmission and stable performance. According to the different needs of users, Chuxiang Intelligence can provide three optional 4G modules in actual applications: 1. Data transmission, 2. Data transmission + voice, 3. Data transmission + voice + positioning.

Data transmission is equivalent to the basis of 4G modules in industrial integrated machine applications. Adding voice function can realize intercom, voice software use, control and other needs. Positioning function is necessary in intelligent vehicle transportation, logistics and traffic systems. More importantly, we can also customize the corresponding communication module according to the communication area where the customer is located (support overseas). In addition, the industrial integrated machine of Chuxiang Intelligence can also support the networking mode of WIFI module and network port.

On the other hand, when it comes to networking methods, 5G is inevitable. Currently, 5G has been commercialized, and base station construction is also becoming more and more popular. Some industry insiders have also said that the arrival of 5G will make the industrial Internet of Things truly realized, not just a concept. But as far as the current situation is concerned, in fact, in the field of industrial control, 4G is still the first choice of users, and they are still waiting and watching for 5G.

Whether it is 4G or 5G, in fact, for industrial intelligent automation control hardware equipment, such as industrial all-in-one machine applications, it is just a matter of popularity. As a manufacturer of touch display equipment focusing on industrial intelligent automation, the hardware equipment of the TouchSmart product series currently has the conditions for the application of 5G modules. By simply installing a 5G module, our industrial all-in-one machine can support the use of 5G networks.

In general, in terms of networking methods, for the industrial field, 4G modules will undoubtedly still be the main demand for some time to come. Combined with WIFI modules, network ports, etc., it can already meet the application needs of most current users. As for 5G applications, we still have to wait and see.