Feature: Industry 4.0
Table 1: 5G vs 6G
KEY 6G RESEARCH AREAS
There is a need for further research and development in the following 6G areas: Frequencies:
5G is using the millimetre-wave range (> 20GHz) for individual communications for the first time. But 6G will go much further and push into the still relatively unexplored terahertz range (300GHz-3THz). It will also incorporate visible light and infrared, as required. These high frequencies are the only way to achieve the extreme transmission rates targeted.
Antennas: At such high frequencies, which correspond to short wavelengths, the antennas have dimensions in the millimetre range. Base stations will combine up to 60,000 of these antennas into arrays to supply simultaneous coverage for hundreds of mobile devices via individual directional beams. Smart reflecting surfaces are also being considered, for example, when used on building walls, they could transmit radio signals around corners.
Artificial intelligence:
AI will be a major hallmark of 6G. Insiders believe that without AI, 6G networks could not be affordable or even function properly. Their complexity is simply too extreme for conventional design and management methods. AI will be used in the components as well as network planning and monitoring. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve a zero-touch (self-optimising) network in terms of cost, energy, and spectral and operational efficiency.
Virtualisation:
All main network components should be defined and addressable via standardised abstract functions. This ensures that products from different manufacturers can be combined whilst leaving room for various technical configurations.
Self-powered sensors: Quantity-wise, myriads of miniature sensors will form the largest share of the IoT. They will need to operate maintenance-free for long periods whilst obtaining power via energy harvesting.
Integrated radio, sensor and computer network:
6G will be much more than just a radio network. Integrated location functions will allow the position of network users to be pinpointed down to the centimetre. The network’s processing power will also be massively distributed and harnessed, either close to the network user or in remote data centres, depending on requirements (edge, fog and cloud computing).
Data integrity:
Even more than 5G, 6G networks will form the backbone of business and industry. Countless business processes and services will be based on these networks, which means data security will be crucial. Users must be correctly authenticated with absolute reliability. Every connection will require encryption. Block-chain technology is being considered here for data integrity.
Energy efficiency: Inevitably, when data communications grow in use, so does their energy demand. The energy consumed per bit transmitted needs to fall in order to keep energy efficiency in check.
18 September 2023
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
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