Project description
6G technology ecosystem with sensing functionalities
Emerging 6G Radio Access Network (RAN) technologies pose challenges in energy efficiency, power consumption, and communication, particularly at high data rates. The EU-funded 6G-SENSES project aims to address these challenges by integrating innovative 6G RAN technologies, such as Cell-Free (CF), Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), and Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS), to establish a multi-technology RAN ecosystem with sensing capabilities. Within this framework, Sub-6, Wi-Fi, millimetre-wave, and 5G NR technologies will coexist, enabling the retrieval of comprehensive environmental information to enhance energy efficiency and facilitate high data rate communication. Leveraging Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs), the project will improve availability and sensing performance, incorporating distributed signal processing and resource allocation schemes optimised for RIS-assisted CF network architecture.
Objective
6G-SENSES proposes the integration of novel 6G RAN technologies such as Cell-Free (CF) Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) and Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS) to support the 6G vision that is sustained by the current (and future) architectural framework based on 3GPP and O-RAN. The project considers a multi-technology RAN ecosystem with technologies that are able to offer sensing functionalities. These technologies are Sub-6, Wi-Fi, millimeter wave and 5G NR, which will coexist in a JCAS framework whose goal is to retrieve as much information as possible from the surrounding environment to improve energy efficiency, reduce power consumption and favour communication at high data rates. Additionally, some of these technologies will be amenable to be integrated in the first implementation of a fully distributed CF-mMIMO scheme using mmWave and Sub-6 technologies. WIth the aim to enhance availability and coverage and to improve sensing performance, will leverage Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) making use of the distributed nature of the access points and availability of multiple antennas. An optimization of distributed signal processing and resource allocation schemes tailored for RIS-assisted CF network architecture is proposed. This framework will make use of new PHY technologies to increase the cooperation among access points and their inherent capabilities to improve the precision/accuracy of the sensing capabilities. Sensing information stemming from these technologies will be pushed to the O-RAN framweork for optimization purposes using the Radio Intelligent Controllers (RICs). A total of three Proof-of-Concept demonstrations will be showcased, which encompass the proposed objectives of the project in a single infrastructure.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network5G
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
15236 Frankfurt Oder
Germany