Wi-Fi patchy? Swinburne researchers could have the 5G solution

Leveraging the untapped capabilities of the resilient, secure and fast 5G network is the focus of new industry-linked Swinburne research, which could transform the future of online learning and working.

Supported by $241,960 in ARC Linkage Project funding from the Federal Government, the project is focused on enabling real-time mobile and Internet of Things applications across health, education, business and more, using the super-fast 5G network.

The research team, led by Associate Professor Qiang He and Professor Yun Yang, will work with Deakin University and Australian start-up AIBUILD to make the Otaro AR/VR education platform the first of its kind powered by new 5G technologies.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Karen Hapgood said the project was a great example of how collaboration with industry could deliver outcomes that benefit the whole of society.

“Working with industry and university partners, this project represents how bringing people and technology together can create innovative solutions to real world problems,” said Professor Hapgood.

“By building on Swinburne’s leading technology, innovation and research capabilities, this project will expand what is possible for Australian organisations harnessing the power of 5G.”

Turbo-charging the 5G network

Unlike 4G, which was designed to mainly connect mobile devices, 5G also aims to connect a broad range of Internet of Things devices like vehicles, manufacturing equipment, appliances and medical devices.

One of the key technologies that enables faster 5G network speeds is mobile edge computing (MEC). MEC distributes servers at the network edge and stores information locally to speed up data retrieval and service provision for nearby users.

Project lead Associate Professor Qiang He says the Swinburne-led project aims to harness this technology to enable real-time information sharing, decision making, and user collaboration over the 5G network with new edge data protection, maintenance and manipulation technologies.

“With 5G rolling out rapidly across the country, this project will be a critical driver of software innovation in everything from healthcare to education and beyond,” says Associate Professor He.

“The project will help build the pillars of MEC edge caching systems that are essential to unlock the massive economic, environmental and social benefits of 5G technology.”

Associate Professor He is one of the world’s leading researchers in MEC and will work alongside Swinburne Professor Yun Yung, as well as Dr Feifei Chen from Deakin University and Yifei Wang from AIBUILD on the three-year project.

Chief Technology Officer of AIBUILD David Taicheng Zhou says the company is delighted to be collaborating with Swinburne on cutting-edge IT solutions.

“With the power of 5G, AIBUILD can achieve a higher availability of service. This technology will allow users to load complex VR/AR content without long wait times, which can help nurture creative new ways of presenting content,” he says.