Vodafone Test 5G Mobile Mast Controlled by Robotic Arm and AI Brain

Mobile network operator Vodafone has revealed how a new trial have seen them add an AI brain and robotic arm to one of their mast sites, which can be used to autonomously analyse where customers need signal coverage the most and then automatically adjust the radio antenna to improve the signal toward that area.

The test of a “self-thinking mast“, which uses an algorithm developed by Vodafone’s engineers and a robotic arm manufactured by South Korean firm HUMAX Networks, is currently taking place at a site in Tirana (Albania). The trial is being monitored to see how effectively it can evaluate demand and local conditions, including weather, to decide where to focus its strongest signal (e.g. on sunny days it directs the signal to boost outdoor reception, while on rainy days it sends it more toward indoor environments).

The robotic arm adjusts for this by rotating or tilting the radio antenna to optimise 4G/5G coverage and performance as required. “It continues to think, learn and adapt and can make decisions almost instantly without human intervention,” said a spokesperson for the mobile operator.

The trial site is said to overlook a major shopping centre. During the day, the antenna serves shoppers, but at night it automatically shifts coverage to focus on a nearby residential area instead, adding capacity when evening internet use rises and the shops are closed. The process to move the antenna takes around 20 to 30 minutes, which is by design to conserve energy and avoid a sudden service disruption.

Making this sort of change manually would have taken days or weeks to arrange, due to the need for certain planning or other permissions to be secured first (sometimes even months if you need to add a new antenna). Not to mention any potential need for road closures and delays due to unsafe weather conditions etc. But that’s not a problem for the AI and its robotic arm.

Francisco ‘Paco’ Martin Pignatelli, Vodafone’s Director of Mobile Access Engineering, said:

“This is an early example of Physical AI in telecoms. By analysing network demand and making autonomous decisions, the AI algorithm can adjust radio antennas to optimise coverage and capacity without human intervention. This enables us to deliver superior connectivity for our customers.”

The trial is said to complement Vodafone’s existing rollout of satellite-guided sensors in new mobile mast antennas, which began last year and helps the operator to confirm whether antennas have been installed correctly to maximise radio performance. In the “coming months” the operator will also test systems that can physically move small components inside the antenna to alter the signal, rather than the whole unit, and thereby reducing energy use. But quite when all of this might be deployed is another matter, and it’ll no doubt add some cost when first installed.