Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DEDICAT 6G (Dynamic coverage Extension and Distributed Intelligence for human Centric applications with assured security, privacy and trust: from 5G to 6G)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2023-12-31
In future 6G wireless networks, it is imperative to support more dynamic resourcing and connectivity to improve adaptability, performance, and trustworthiness in the presence of emerging human-centric services with heterogeneous computation needs. DEDICAT 6G takes the next vital step beyond 5G by addressing techniques for maintaining an efficient placement of computation in the mobile network. In addition, the project targets the design and development of mechanisms for dynamic coverage extension through the exploitation of novel terminals and mobile client nodes, e.g. smart connected cars, robots, and drones. DEDICAT 6G also addresses security, privacy, and trust assurance especially for mobile edge services and enablers for novel interaction between humans and digital systems. The aim is to achieve (i) more efficient use of resources; (ii) reduction of latency, response time, and energy consumption; (iii) reduction of operational and capital expenditures; and (iv) reinforcement of security, privacy, and trust. DEDICAT 6G focuses on four use cases: Smart warehousing, Enhanced experiences, Public Safety and Smart Highway.
DEDICAT 6G contributes to the following H2020 Societal Challenges: Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies ; Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens. DEDICAT 6G contributes to the following, United Nations Sustainable development goals: Decent work and economic growth; Industry, innovation and infrastructure; Climate Action. DEDICAT 6G solutions contribute to the Commission’s strategy and vision on Connectivity for a European Gigabit Society. DEDICAT 6G mechanisms for the dynamic creation of coverage extensions support service continuity also in “remote” or difficult to reach areas. The DEDICAT 6G Smart Warehousing looked into issues on how to improve automation and enable remote control of at least some warehousing operations by harnessing the power of B5G/6G technologies. The Enhanced Experience use case addressed enabling “virtual” participation to large music/theatrical events making the experience as close as possible to a real one. Through the Public Safety use case, the project demonstrated how Coverage extension mechanisms can facilitate continuum in critical communications for First Responders, especially for the communicants at the edge, while improving the safety of First Responders who responded to a crisis. The Smart Highway use case demonstrated the benefit of AI algorithms to manage MAPs positions in a highway and the value to share a real-time situation to all road users to make road travelling safer.
DEDICAT 6G contributes to the following H2020 Societal Challenges: Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies ; Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens. DEDICAT 6G contributes to the following, United Nations Sustainable development goals: Decent work and economic growth; Industry, innovation and infrastructure; Climate Action. DEDICAT 6G solutions contribute to the Commission’s strategy and vision on Connectivity for a European Gigabit Society. DEDICAT 6G mechanisms for the dynamic creation of coverage extensions support service continuity also in “remote” or difficult to reach areas. The DEDICAT 6G Smart Warehousing looked into issues on how to improve automation and enable remote control of at least some warehousing operations by harnessing the power of B5G/6G technologies. The Enhanced Experience use case addressed enabling “virtual” participation to large music/theatrical events making the experience as close as possible to a real one. Through the Public Safety use case, the project demonstrated how Coverage extension mechanisms can facilitate continuum in critical communications for First Responders, especially for the communicants at the edge, while improving the safety of First Responders who responded to a crisis. The Smart Highway use case demonstrated the benefit of AI algorithms to manage MAPs positions in a highway and the value to share a real-time situation to all road users to make road travelling safer.
DEDICAT 6G has delivered a very detailed specification of the DEDICAT 6G architecture. The objective was to drive work on mechanisms for dynamic intelligence distribution, coverage extension and privacy, security and trust by providing a unified and holistic view of the DEDICAT 6G architecture. This included specification of Functional components, interfaces and detailed description of use cases. DEDICAT 6G developed mechanisms for Dynamic Distribution of Intelligence, coverage extension and security, privacy and trust.
The DEDICAT 6G project’s pilots, evaluating and demonstrating dynamic mechanisms based on real-life scenarios, allowed the partners to present the future of B5G/6G connectivity and improvements compared to state-of-the-art communications. The pilots’ demonstrations and events supported the promotion of the technologies increasing awareness among stakeholders, and potentially facilitating broader adoption of such novel technologies in the future. The majority of quantitative targets for dissemination have been met, and in some case substantially exceeded. The project has reached a significant number of publications in international journals and conferences, with a total of 45 contributions.
The results of DEDICAT 6G collectively demonstrate a significant leap in the architecture of networked systems, intelligence distribution, and service orchestration, positioning the project's outcomes at the forefront of innovation in communication technologies. The readiness of these innovations, spanning from laboratory demonstrations to prototypes and under de-velopment stages, suggests a tangible path for future commercialization and industry adop-tion. The potential impact lies not only in addressing current limitations but also in laying the groundwork for more efficient, secure, and intelligent communication systems across various domains, thereby contributing to the broader evolution of communication technologies.
The DEDICAT 6G project’s pilots, evaluating and demonstrating dynamic mechanisms based on real-life scenarios, allowed the partners to present the future of B5G/6G connectivity and improvements compared to state-of-the-art communications. The pilots’ demonstrations and events supported the promotion of the technologies increasing awareness among stakeholders, and potentially facilitating broader adoption of such novel technologies in the future. The majority of quantitative targets for dissemination have been met, and in some case substantially exceeded. The project has reached a significant number of publications in international journals and conferences, with a total of 45 contributions.
The results of DEDICAT 6G collectively demonstrate a significant leap in the architecture of networked systems, intelligence distribution, and service orchestration, positioning the project's outcomes at the forefront of innovation in communication technologies. The readiness of these innovations, spanning from laboratory demonstrations to prototypes and under de-velopment stages, suggests a tangible path for future commercialization and industry adop-tion. The potential impact lies not only in addressing current limitations but also in laying the groundwork for more efficient, secure, and intelligent communication systems across various domains, thereby contributing to the broader evolution of communication technologies.
DEDICAT 6G developed new mechanisms to dynamically distribute intelligence (i.e. data processing and analytics), based on status information of both communication and computing loads. DEDICAT 6G developed dynamic coverage extension mechanisms that rely on a combination of robots, drones and cars to offer the most satisfactory QoS to users through MAPs-based opportunistic radio network. The DEDICAT 6G AI powered security management framework leverages on SoTA and best practices to innovate on mechanisms for threat detection, classification, and risk mitigation in context of highly dynamic and distributed communication and computation networks. DEDICAT 6G has progressed SoTA by integrating and validating (with-in project use cases and pilots) various functionalities into a comprehensive security and data protection. The DEDICAT 6G trust management platform is based on high performance and efficient private permissioned blockchain (Hyperledger Fabric). The innovations developed by DEDICAT 6G result in novel products and services that, in addition to providing very substantial technological advances, also have a very high commercial value as well as a very strong potential market impact. The DEDICAT 6G enablers aim to address the growing need of B5G/6G for self-management, self-repair and self-optimization, with data and work-loads optimally distributed over the network and executed on edge devices. At the same time, DEDICAT 6G enablers for coverage extension allow for the efficient expansion of the communication environment where needed, wherever needed for as long as needed. The results of DEDICAT 6G collectively demonstrate a significant leap in the architecture of networked systems, intelligence distribution, and service orchestration, positioning the project's outcomes at the forefront of innovation in communication technologies. The readiness of these innovations, spanning from laboratory demonstrations to prototypes and under development stages, suggests a tangible path for future commercialization and industry adoption. The potential impact lies not only in addressing current limitations but also in laying the groundwork for more efficient, secure, and intelligent communication systems across various domains, thereby contributing to the broader evolution of communication technologies. The consortium translated the developed business plans for the four use cases into exploitation agreements, creating a legal foundation that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the distinct platform teams.