Huawei has revealed that its X Labs research platform will focus on four key mobile application areas this year including connected cars and virtual reality.
The vendor held the first annual X Labs roundtable at this week’s Mobile World Congress alongside fellow members Intel, GE, Bosch Connected Devices and Solutions, Toshiba, Philips Lighting, Noitom, Continental, DNP, CloudMinds and CMCC.
The X Labs platform, launched last November, aims to bring together operators, vertical industry partners and industry leaders to explore future use cases for mobile applications. Huawei believes “incredible development potential” for mobile applications exists in video, household and vertical industry markets.
To exploit this fully carriers need to “build application-driven networks and help cultivate an open industry ecosystem”.
“In 2017, X Labs will focus on four major areas of research,” said Peter Zhou, the Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Wireless Solution. “Connected drones, cloud VR/AR, wireless robotics and connected vehicles. This will be a close collaborative effort between partners around the world. Together, we will explore the unexplored, aiming to push the boundaries of wireless technology, develop new applications and, of course, unearth new market potential.”
On connected drones X Labs will focus on using wireless networks to more effectively regulate the flights of unmanned aircraft and manage remote automated tasks. With cloud VR and AR it said service and “content cloudification” are an important factor and that mobile requirements will provide the “perfect opening for carriers to get their foot in the door”.
On wireless robotics, it added that ubiquitous wireless connections between smart robots in factories are a key factor in smart production. On automotive it stated that by leveraging next-generation mobile networks X Labs will focus on “beefing up” the connectivity of connected car platforms.
“The end goal is the development of end-to-end solutions that will help unveil new business opportunities for both the automotive and ICT industries,” it said.
Huawei stressed that “all like-minded partners” were welcome to join X Labs.
“X Labs will serve as a global communications and collaboration platform, which will include a wide range of constructive input and output, including technical discussions, round tables, and industry reports, all aimed at getting more ideas out there bouncing off each other,” it said.