Trial PlAtform foR 5G EvoluTion – Cross-Industry On Large Scale

Project Information

TARGET-X

Grant agreement ID: 101096614

DOI

10.3030/101096614

Project closed

EC signature date 11 November 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 October 2025

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 14 464 116,26

EU contribution

€ 13 162 555,38

Coordinated by

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TARGET-X (Trial PlAtform foR 5G EvoluTion – Cross-Industry On Large Scale)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The TARGET-X project accelerates the digital transformation of four key verticals: energy, construction, automotive, and manufacturing. Large scale trials and pilots in testbeds throughout Europe demonstrate, validate, and evaluate the potential of 5G/6G in real environments. The testbeds for the four verticals in TARGET-X are spread across two locations, with four testbeds being part of the 5G-Industry Campus Europe (5G-ICE). The fifth testbed is located on the automotive testing grounds of IDIADA in Spain. The facilities enable testing and evaluating the most advanced 5G/6G technologies, such as real-time communication, localisation, self-description, digital twinning, and sensor-network data fusion. To assess the effectiveness of the developed technologies, the project’s evaluation focuses on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Value Indicators (KVIs), such as sustainability, safety, and security. This paves the way for new business models and a methodological assessment framework for economic and social evaluation. The development of these solutions are supported and guided by the TARGET-X consortium, which includes SMEs, Information Technology, and Operational Technology partners, and 66 Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) projects with 98 entities.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In TARGET-X, four different verticals are contributing to individual use cases. The project ensures the evolution of the testbeds by gradually introducing new technology elements from the technology clusters. The effects on the use cases are evaluated with the help of a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) and Key Value Indicator (KVI) framework.
Use Cases of TARGET-X Verticals:
MANUFACTURING
1: Inline Quality Assurance for Machining
2: Environmental Condition Monitoring
3: Trace and Tracking of Workpieces
ROBOTICS
1: Edge-Controlled Automation with Mobile Manipulation
ENERGY
1: Energy Monitoring and Energy Consumption Awareness
AUTOMOTIVE
1: Cooperative Perception
2: Digital Twin
3: Predictive Quality of Service for Tele-operated Vehicles.
CONSTRUCTION
1: 5G for Automation of Deconstruction Processes
2: 5G for Mixed Reality Supported Deconstruction Planning
3: 5G for Energy Analytics of Construction Processes
4: 5G for Safety Assistant System

The 66 TARGET-X FSTP projects complement and extend trials and testing in the different sectors.

TARGET-X leverages both Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) networks, incorporating a blend of established and novel features deemed crucial for implementing and evaluating use cases. It facilitates use case implementations on both public and private networks, mirroring the diverse implementation options available to these sectors.

5G-based positioning, mmWave and RedCap:
To enhance the robotics use case, TARGET-X introduces 5G-based positioning technology, aiming to explore current capabilities and identify potential future improvements. In addition to utilizing the Sub6 spectrum, the project integrates millimeter wave (mmWave) technology into the manufacturing and construction testbeds for comprehensive evaluation. Also, RedCap functionality has been investigated in the manufacturing testbed.

Asset Administration Shell:
Moreover, TARGET-X has defined, developed, and deployed a range of Asset Administration Shell (AAS) submodels, creating digital representations for both the 5G network and the 5G user equipment. To encourage seamless interaction between network elements and manufacturing processes, new information exchange mechanisms have been implemented.

Real-time ecosystem:
Recognizing the importance of reliable communication in industrial automation, the project incorporates various components from the Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) toolbox. It provides SIB9-based time synchronization options and has integrated 5G with Frame Replication and Elimination for Reliability (FRER) scheme to increase communication robustness. These efforts aim to ensure dependable communication pathways essential for advancing industrial automation applications.

Large-scale trial:
With a high number of midband, mmWave and RedCap devices, TARGET-X was able to execute a large-scale trial with a realistic number of industrial IoT devices and to evaluate network performance.

Through these initiatives, TARGET-X demonstrates its commitment to enhancing technological capabilities across multiple industries, facilitating innovation, and enabling the efficient deployment of advanced network solutions. The project is forging pathways for future advancements and fostering collaboration between network technologies and industrial processes to drive progress in the evolution towards beyond 5G and 6G.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Massive validation: a large number of companies were given access to 5G technology in the various trial sites, so that innovative solutions using 5G could be tested in an application-oriented manner.
The close cooperation between the members of the TARGET-X consortium and the funded companies significantly expanded the existing 5G ecosystem.
Working together, TARGET-X has executed 186 tests and trials.

Methodological Assessment Framework: TARGET-X has developed a Methodological Assessment Framework (MAF) which utilizes User KPI and User KVI to capture the value proposition achieved through the implementation of use cases in the individual verticals of TARGET X.

Further, the TARGET-X results emerge from the investigation of 5G/6G and peripherical technologies across the whole value chain (devices, connectivity, service delivery), self-adapting communication networks, dynamic allocation of communication and computation resources across IT&OT and the enhancement of the 5G/6G ecosystem in the manufacturing & robotics, automotive, energy, and construction verticals.

TARGET-X Overall Concept

TARGET-X Keyvisual