Unified design of terrestrial and non-terrestrial radio access technologies        for seamless service coverage.

Initial Situation

The ongoing digitalization of society and the economy increasingly demands comprehensive and uninterrupted network coverage. Innovative applications such as connected and automated driving, digital agriculture, as well as automated logistics and maritime transport, rely on ubiquitous communication. The expansion of terrestrial communication networks through non-terrestrial network elements, such as drones or satellites, will become a significant part of the 6th generation of mobile communications (6G) and places high technological demands on the dynamic control of radio links.

Objective

The 6G-Coverage project is researching suitable technologies for handover, antenna systems, and multi-connectivity to ensure ubiquitous and uninterrupted 6G mobile coverage. To this end, network elements from terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication are being integrated for applications in connected and automated mobility. The new approaches are verified through simulations, their behavior is demonstrated in real mobile and satellite networks, and they are integrated into a new system architecture. By using commercially available hardware and software components as a foundation, practical solutions are developed, enabling their application to other fields.

Research Contribution of the University of Bremen

In the 6G-Coverage project, the University of Bremen will research and implement innovative methods for information transmission via standardized TN/NTN radio access interfaces and multi-link concepts. To this end, application scenarios will be specified, and standardized radio access concepts for TN or NTN transmission channels will be investigated. The expansion to multiple channels (TN and TNT) and the development of methods to increase reliability are also subjects of research. Initial hardware-oriented implementations of the developed methods will be carried out, and selected concepts will be implemented and validated in the 6G-Coverge testbed in collaboration with the project partners. The University of Bremen will also serve as the project coordinator.

Further Information

Details