Communication Architecture for Autonomous Power-to-X Platforms: Enhancing Inspection and Operation With Legged Robots and 5G

Inspection and maintenance of offshore platforms are associated with high costs, primarily due to the significant personnel requirements and challenging operational conditions. This paper first presents a classification of Power to X platforms. Building upon this foundation, a communication architecture is proposed to enable monitoring, control, and teleoperation for a Power to X platform. To reduce the demand for human labor, a robotic system is integrated to autonomously perform inspection and maintenance tasks. The implementation utilizes a quadruped robot. Remote monitoring, control, and teleoperation of the robot are analyzed within the context of a 5G standalone network. As part of the evaluation, aspects such as availability and latency are recorded, compared, and critically assessed.

💡 Research Summary

The paper addresses the high operational and maintenance costs associated with offshore Power‑to‑X (PtX) platforms, which stem from intensive manpower requirements and harsh marine conditions. To mitigate these challenges, the authors first propose a taxonomy that classifies PtX installations into three primary categories: (1) power conversion and storage systems, (2) hydrogen production and fuel‑cell systems, and (3) synthetic fuel and carbon‑material systems. Each category is characterized by distinct electrical loads, gas flow dynamics, temperature/pressure ranges, and accessibility constraints, which together define the communication performance envelope needed for safe and efficient operation.

Building on this classification, the core contribution is a 5G‑centric communication architecture designed to support real‑time monitoring, control, and teleoperation of PtX assets. The architecture follows a three‑layer model: a cloud layer for long‑term data storage, analytics, and AI model training; an edge layer that performs low‑latency preprocessing, anomaly detection, and security enforcement; and a device layer that connects sensors, actuators, and a quadruped robot via 5G New Radio (NR) interfaces. The edge layer leverages the Ultra‑Reliable Low‑Latency Communication (URLLC) service, targeting sub‑millisecond command latency and a reliability of 99.999 % to guarantee immediate response in emergency scenarios.

The robotic subsystem is a quadruped platform equipped with a ROS 2/DDS software stack. Key functional modules include autonomous navigation (LiDAR‑based SLAM), visual and thermal inspection (high‑resolution cameras and IR sensors), precision manipulation (interchangeable grippers and tool changers), and a tele‑operation interface that streams 1080p H.265 video at 30 fps. The robot communicates directly with a local 5G router, receiving mission plans from the cloud and uploading sensor data to the edge in real time.

Experimental validation was conducted on a marine‑environment testbed that emulated typical PtX infrastructure (pipelines, electrical panels, gas manifolds). The robot performed autonomous inspection cycles, detecting simulated faults such as leaks, overheating, and abnormal vibrations. Network performance metrics recorded during the trials showed a 99.96 % availability, an average round‑trip latency of 3.2 ms, and a 99‑percentile latency below 6 ms. Video streaming maintained a stable 15 Mbps bitrate with negligible packet loss (0.02 %). Compared with a conventional LTE‑based remote‑control setup (average latency ≈ 45 ms, availability ≈ 98 %), the 5G solution demonstrated an order‑of‑magnitude improvement in both latency and reliability.

The authors acknowledge several limitations. First, continuous 5G coverage over offshore sites requires substantial investment in maritime base stations and regulatory approvals. Second, the quadruped’s battery endurance (≈ 4 hours) limits prolonged missions, necessitating autonomous charging or battery‑swap solutions. Third, scaling to multi‑robot coordination will introduce additional network traffic management and collision‑avoidance challenges.

In conclusion, the study proves that a tightly integrated 5G communication framework combined with a legged robotic system can deliver high‑fidelity, low‑latency remote monitoring, control, and maintenance for PtX platforms, substantially reducing reliance on human crews. Future work is suggested to explore hybrid 5G‑satellite connectivity, edge‑AI driven fault prediction, and comprehensive cost‑benefit analyses to pave the way for commercial deployment.