KOMSENS-6G: Perzeptive Kommunikations-Netzwerke mit integriertem Sensing für die 6. Generation des Mobilfunks

The goal of KOMSENS-6G is to extend the 6th generation mobile radio system by another core functionality – besides communication: radio sensing or in the following also called sensing. We see the ability to sense the environment with the help of mobile radio signals as essential and useful for future mobile radio systems both in public spaces and in the context of so-called campus networks. New use cases in areas such as industrial production (e.g. digital twin) and mobility (e.g. traffic monitoring) are made possible. Furthermore, this can be used to better optimize the communication interface. To achieve this goal, we will analyze and adapt all relevant components of the cellular system accordingly, so that the sensing functionality itself is part of the overall system, i.e., we aim for a deep integration of sensing into the cellular system, in contrast to other approaches where the sensing functionality is realized by separate systems (such as automotive radar) and the cellular system is only used as a means for data communication between the external sensors.

The selection of the consortium, especially with respect to the industrial partners, gives us the opportunity to achieve this goal. Thus, we have all relevant market participants in the project: Nokia, Ericsson and Rohde & Schwarz as manufacturers, Deutsche Telekom as a vendor and Bosch as a user and representative of the so-called vertical industries. In addition, this broad selection of industry representatives guarantees an equally broad application of the project's work and results, which contains the individual exploitation plans. An example of this is the ability of Deutsche Telekom to offer novel services (sensing-as-a-service). In addition, the ability to sense the environment is an important part of the industry 4.0 vision (with regard to the digital twin). Important benefits can also be expected here in the area of mobility, e.g., to increase safety in traffic. Finally, knowledge of the environment can also be used to optimize data communication.

KOMSENS-6G refers to the funding program "6G industrial projects for research into holistic systems and sub-technologies for 6th generation mobile communications" in the research program for communication systems "Sovereign. Digital. Networked." Specifically, the work in KOMSENS-6G relates to the focus on "Concepts for high localization accuracy in the centimeter range and the sensory detection of the environment using communication technologies (e.g. in production),". The goal is both novel applications but also the improvement of the communication interface by generating and using context, e.g., in the form of environmental knowledge.

In the news:

https://www.forschung-it-sicherheit-kommunikationssysteme.de/projekte/komsens-6g

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2022/11/15/nokia-to-lead-komsens-6g-integrating-sensing-into-the-communications-system/