Positioning in 5G

The standardization of 5G is an ongoing process that involves agreeing on clearly defined developments, which are then published in releases. In June 2018, the first generation of 5G New Radio (NR) was defined in Release 15 of the standardization process for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a worldwide collaboration by standardization bodies for mobile communications.

As with LTE, 5G will also undergo several stages of development within the framework of future releases. With the upcoming Release 16, the aim is to achieve a horizontal positioning accuracy of less than 3 meters indoors for the first time, and we expect to see further accuracy improvements in Releases 17 and 18 (see box). The 5G positioning architecture will also be able to incorporate a multitude of sensors, paving the way for hybrid systems that are specially tailored to and optimized for the requirements of a given application.

Delay-based methods such as OTDOA and UTDOA allow positioning with submeter accuracy over 5G networks thanks to the high 5G bandwidth of up to 100 MHz for frequency band FR1 (< 6 GHz) and the resulting increase in time resolution. With a bandwidth of 400 MHz in frequency band FR2 (> 6 GHz), positioning performance will be able to extend into the decimeter range.

To test these innovations, Fraunhofer IIS in Nuremberg operates a 5G test bed focused on industrial applications. This includes the installation of a UTDOA system for precise positioning. The software-defined radio (SDR) platform allows the performance of 5G positioning to be determined at a very early stage and put through its paces in specific industrial applications. The challenging task of evaluating the actual capabilities of 5G depends on all kinds of implementation details, as well as on hardware and software support in mobile communication devices after 2020. We also provide our customers with advice and expertise to support them during implementation.

Thanks to the ongoing standardization, 5G positioning will help to boost efficiency in industrial and logistical processes over the next few years. One new application to benefit from this significant increase in positioning accuracy is the use of drones to transport production parts in industrial settings – and, many companies are already using driverless transport systems that navigate through the manufacturing process autonomously. However, precise positioning with 5G is also of interest for the many AV/VR applications that are now seeing greater use in manufacturing and remote applications.

Alongside our research activities in the area of 5G, we at Fraunhofer IIS offer not only the expertise but also the premises to test 5G in industrial and logistical processes under real-life conditions at our 5G test bed for Industry 4.0 applications, which receives support from the Free State of Bavaria. As well as these real-life implementations, the accompanying 5G test center can also emulate and simulate 5G use cases, helping to bridge the gap between the completion of a new release and the availability of compliant hardware.