6G for Industrial Communication

From Ultra to Hyper

 

Extremely fast and reliable – “Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication” (URLLC) forms one of the central pillars of the 5G standard. This marks the first time that mobile communications open up for production halls, where the continuous networking and automation of processes and machines demand new, efficient, and wireless solutions. However, these must consistently meet the stringent requirements and conditions of industrial communication. 

Therefore, this central pillar will also remain with 6G, albeit in the further developed variant “Hyper Reliable Low Latency Communication” (HRLLC). The boundaries are pushed even further: With latencies of 100 microseconds and a reliability of 10-9, 6G enables real-time networking and control of manufacturing processes. Even safety- and mission-critical applications, which cannot afford costly production downtimes, can be controlled through HRLLC reliably and delay-free. Thus, mobile communications finally become a true alternative to cables.

At the right time in the right place with Time-Sensitive Networking

 

The environment in which mobile communications operate in factories is complex and unpredictable. Numerous coexisting real-time applications face massive metal walls, which lead to signal attenuation and overlapping due to multiple reflections. Additionally, “Automated Mobile Robots” (AMRs) and “Automated Guided Vehicles” (AGVs) increasingly navigate through the production halls, adding extra dynamics to the processes. Under such circumstances, implementing a wireless communication network is not a given. Deterministic communication, which directs all data to the right place at the right time, becomes a challenge.

As a guarantee for determinism, we rely on Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). This is a set of wired standards that eliminate randomness from the production hall through structuring measures. TSN acts like a conductor, orchestrating everything as if by magic: By assigning fixed network routes, the various information packets are synchronized and prioritized so precisely that time-critical data traffic always arrives on time. Additionally, TSN ensures optimal bandwidth utilization and provides end-to-end, vendor-neutral communication from sensor to cloud. This enables the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). We are convinced: Time-Sensitive Networking and mobile communications form an ideal symbiosis. Therefore, we are researching mechanisms and tools to make TSN usable for wireless applications.

Deterministic 6G: The future of industrial communication

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Reference projects

  • 6G-SHINE – SHort range extreme communication IN Entities

    6G-SHINE aims to develop technological components for wireless subnetworks and to prepare them for the future 6G standard. These are highly localized radio networks within machines. 

    The Fraunhofer IIS focuses on the macro diversity of the subnetworks, especially multi-frequency communication and collaborative reception, and creates a proof of concept for this. 

  • TWIN – Wireless TSN via WLAN and UWIN

    The project includes a study aimed at investigating a novel network element that is created by combining WLAN with the real-time capable radio system "Ultra Reliable Wireless Industrial Network" (UWIN).

    This element is intended to ensure that the overall transmission chain is TSN-capable and thus ready for reliable use in industrial scenarios.

  • USWA – Ultra scalable wireless access

    USWA addresses real-time capable wireless industrial communication to accelerate the transition from cable to radio. It explores a mesh network design that takes into account the specific conditions of industrial environments, thereby enabling delay-free transitions between radio networks. 

    The Fraunhofer IIS conducts proof-of-concept studies for real-time mesh systems that meet the 6G requirements in terms of high reliability and low latency. 

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