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Athena Orchestrator Showcases New JCAS Feature at MWC
At the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2024, ITRI presented a significant advancement in its award-winning Athena Orchestrator, a cutting-edge 5G O-RAN private network management solution. This update introduces Athena Sensing, a groundbreaking joint communication and sensing (JCAS) feature.
ITRI showcased its award-winning 5G O-RAN private network management solution at MWC in Barcelona, attracting industry players such as HFCL Limited and WiSigNetworks.
Athena Orchestrator has garnered international recognition for its ability to reduce energy consumption by a remarkable 20%. It has received prestigious awards, including a 2023 R&D 100 Award, a 2023 Edison Awards Gold distinction, and the Small Cell Forum (SCF) Awards in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Beyond its core functionalities like Athena Planner, Athena EMS, and Athena RIC, this 5G energy-saving solution now incorporates enhanced sensing capabilities through Athena Sensing. Leveraging JCAS technology as one of the rApps within Athena RIC, Athena Sensing unlocks the scalability of Athena Orchestrator for beyond-5G mobile networks. By combining radar-like sensing data with AI recognition, it enables applications such as intuitive video game control via hand gestures and home automation/robotics control through body movements. This pursuit of pioneering JCAS technology aligns with ITRI’s vision of integrating sensing directly into base stations, paving the way for a future where communication and sensing converge seamlessly in a single device.
The foundation of Athena Orchestrator lies in Athena Planner, a powerful 5G site survey planning tool. This AI-powered solution empowers network deployment engineers with expert recommendations on base station placement, quantity, configuration, and analytical reports. Furthermore, Athena EMS and Athena RIC work in tandem to enhance the energy efficiency of 5G O-RAN private networks. These solutions not only adhere to O-RAN specifications but also offer extendable applications to cater to diverse 5G requirements, promoting both deployment effectiveness and long-term sustainability.