Periodic Reporting for period 1 - 6GTandem (A Dual-frequency Distributed MIMO Approach for Future 6G Applications)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31
6GTandem aims to achieve a competitive advantage by defining and shaping the future of 6G infrastructures in Europe and contributing to the long-term impact of smart, flexi - ble, and scalable Radio Access Network (RAN) evolution and offering hardware products that will reach a unique level in terms of Radio Frequency (RF) performance, cost-, spectrum- and energy-efficiency in the global market.
In particular, 6GTandem focuses on the following objectives:
• Develop the 6GTandem system presenting an optimized combination of a sub-THz and a lower-frequency infrastructure.
• Develop models for the tandem system in terms of hardware impairments, propagation and impact of the radio environment .
• Design waveforms for dual-frequency systems with control information.
• Develop fully integrated communication links.
• Demonstrate and validate the concept to identify performance bottlenecks and to guide the future research directions in- and beyond the project lifetime.
Massive MIMO (multiple input multiple out) technology was successfully deployed in 5G. However, the Massive MIMO can suffer from large quality-of-service variations when operating at very high frequencies. Moreover, it exhibits large physical dimensions and involves high installation and maintenance costs. Finally, yet importantly, excessive power dissipation along with the associated high heat concentration is a practical issue of the co-located massive MIMO architecture, resulting in challenges in building and deploying such systems. The distributed MIMO approach is an alternative to such centralized architecture that reduces the impact of the above problems and has the potential to offer consistent excellent service levels in the intended network coverage zone with lower output power.
The deployment of a large number of distributed antenna units for D-MIMO faces some technical challenges which as well becomes a costly solution. To address this, our project introduces a radio stripe concept, utilizing low-cost plastic fibers to transmit sub-THz communication signals from a central unit to distributed antenna units, thereby mitigating cost and losses associated with current technologies.
This project is vital for society by offering new services, improving resilience, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing electromagnetic exposure (by geometrically distributing the antennas over an area). It addresses global warming, addresses EMF concerns, and enables diverse applications, especially for smart cities and homes.
In particular, 6GTandem focuses on the following objectives:
• Develop the 6GTandem system presenting an optimized combination of a sub-THz and a lower-frequency infrastructure.
• Develop models for the tandem system in terms of hardware impairments, propagation and impact of the radio environment .
• Design waveforms for dual-frequency systems with control information.
• Develop fully integrated communication links.
• Demonstrate and validate the concept to identify performance bottlenecks and to guide the future research directions in- and beyond the project lifetime.
Massive MIMO (multiple input multiple out) technology was successfully deployed in 5G. However, the Massive MIMO can suffer from large quality-of-service variations when operating at very high frequencies. Moreover, it exhibits large physical dimensions and involves high installation and maintenance costs. Finally, yet importantly, excessive power dissipation along with the associated high heat concentration is a practical issue of the co-located massive MIMO architecture, resulting in challenges in building and deploying such systems. The distributed MIMO approach is an alternative to such centralized architecture that reduces the impact of the above problems and has the potential to offer consistent excellent service levels in the intended network coverage zone with lower output power.
The deployment of a large number of distributed antenna units for D-MIMO faces some technical challenges which as well becomes a costly solution. To address this, our project introduces a radio stripe concept, utilizing low-cost plastic fibers to transmit sub-THz communication signals from a central unit to distributed antenna units, thereby mitigating cost and losses associated with current technologies.
This project is vital for society by offering new services, improving resilience, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing electromagnetic exposure (by geometrically distributing the antennas over an area). It addresses global warming, addresses EMF concerns, and enables diverse applications, especially for smart cities and homes.
We have done a comprehensive literature study when it comes to the defined 6G use cases, from previous EU projects and the latest standardisation documents. Then we defined and analysed the 6GTandem enabled use cases based on this input, what 6GTandem can offer, and the deployment environments.
All partners have identified what kind of models will be needed to be able to model the whole system and make this inventory as an input to the WP3 tasks.
A dedicated measurement campaign has been carried out, hosted by KU Leuven’s, to characterise the mobility of users in different AR/VR applications.
We drafted several link-budget scenarios and have assessed the feasibilities of the packaging of the antenna, the transceiver chips, and the coupling antenna (plastic fiber to MMIC transition). We have now planned the future antenna-in-package Tape outs.
The B11 HFC Tape Out happened in November 2023 including newly designed chips the results of which are expected to be around Spring 2024.
The work focusing on the communication system has started with high-level link budget calculations, which has led to a revisiting of the initial networking system ideas. Furthermore, the development of models has started targeting a comprehensive catalogue responding to the model requirements inventory that was established.
All partners have identified what kind of models will be needed to be able to model the whole system and make this inventory as an input to the WP3 tasks.
A dedicated measurement campaign has been carried out, hosted by KU Leuven’s, to characterise the mobility of users in different AR/VR applications.
We drafted several link-budget scenarios and have assessed the feasibilities of the packaging of the antenna, the transceiver chips, and the coupling antenna (plastic fiber to MMIC transition). We have now planned the future antenna-in-package Tape outs.
The B11 HFC Tape Out happened in November 2023 including newly designed chips the results of which are expected to be around Spring 2024.
The work focusing on the communication system has started with high-level link budget calculations, which has led to a revisiting of the initial networking system ideas. Furthermore, the development of models has started targeting a comprehensive catalogue responding to the model requirements inventory that was established.
Main results of the project so far include analyses of use cases, link budgets and model requirements. The main impact of these results is that they are essential to progress the knowledge and steer the R&D in the project. The nature of these results does not make them the subject of paths towards commercialisation.
Furthermore, high-level transmission concepts have been explored and initial designs for sub-THz hardware components and antennas have been developed. These will need further R&D before substantial impact can be anticipated.
Furthermore, high-level transmission concepts have been explored and initial designs for sub-THz hardware components and antennas have been developed. These will need further R&D before substantial impact can be anticipated.