The IN project aims to support the Italian automation industry by pursuing interdisciplinary theoretical and applied research for communication networks in industrial environments, with both a medium and long-term vision. This will be achieved by exploring both legacy and new technologies supporting the stringent requirements characterizing industrial use-cases and that sometimes cannot be fulfilled by 5G but need to follow the 6G standardization.

IN is part of Spoke 5 – Industrial and Digital Transition Networks 

Project PI: Roberto Verdone

The IN project has identified five reference Industrial Use Cases (UCs) shaping the research framework and established procedures for potential future UC inclusion.

These UCs, derived from industry discussions and standard documentation analysis, encompass motion controllers, process monitoring, mobile control panels, mobile robots, and plant asset management.

Additionally, 23 research activities have been outlined within the project, aiming to generate scientific outputs such as publications, patents, and demonstrators validating telecommunication's role in industrial settings.

Five deliverables have been issued, two focusing on UC definition and characterization, two presenting initial theoretical results from the activities, and one summarizing project dissemination efforts.

The project significantly contributes to defining facilities for the Spoke 5 laboratory, geared towards industry-relevant and 6G-oriented proof-of-concepts. It is initiating the definition phase for initial Proof-of-Concepts in collaboration with the MOSS project at Villa Griffone.
Key outcomes for the IN project include:
  1. identifying and characterizing 5 Industrial Use Cases (UCs)
  2. initiating 23 interdisciplinary research activities
  3. submitting 5 deliverables and 2 milestones detailing UCs, industrial network evolution towards 6G, theoretical results, and dissemination efforts
  4. submitting initial scientific publications
  5. proposing an innovation idea for RESTART mission 3
  6. defining Spoke 5 lab facilities (e.g., drones, AGVs, intelligent surfaces, high-frequency instrumentation)
  7. engaging with 2 Italian Industry Consortia
  8. hosting a webinar with a manufacturing stakeholder
  9. producing 7 video capsules for broad dissemination
  10. organizing a special conference session
  11. co-hosting a workshop with three European projects.
Scientific outcomes include (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (x), (xi), while (i), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix) are deemed Industrial/Exploitable, showcasing project breadth and impact.
  • Publications
    Expected: 36
    Accomplished: 35
    Readiness level: 233 %
  • Joint Publications
    Expected: 18
    Accomplished: 3
    Readiness level: 40%
  • Talks/Dissemination Events
    Expected: 6
    Accomplished: 4
    Readiness level = 160 %
  • Realizing Demo/PoCs 
    Expected: 6
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 % (as expected)
  • Project Meetings
    Expected: 12
    Accomplished: 10
    Readiness level = 200 % 
  • Patents/Innovations  
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 1
    Readiness level = 240 % 
  • Open-source contributions
    Expected: 0
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level: 0 % (as expected)
  • Standardization contributions
    Expected: 0
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level: 0 % (as expected)

Other project KPIs:

  • Editing journal special issues
    Expected: 3
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • Workshop Organization
    Expected: 3
    Accomplished: 1
    Readiness level = 80 %
  • Organizing PhD School
    Expected: 2
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • Experimental Trials
    Expected: 15
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • Start-Up
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • Contributing to Education & Training initiatives
    Expected: 15
    Accomplished: 1
    Readiness level = 16 %
  • Recording Video Clips
    Expected: 15
    Accomplished: 7
    Readiness level = 112%
  • M1.1 Identification of use-cases and requirements
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 1
    Readiness level = 100 %
  • M7.1 Definition of outdoor PoC
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 1
    Readiness level = 100 %
  • M5.1 Availability of informative data
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M7.2 Availability of HW/FW platform for outdoor PoC
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M3.1 Definition of network planning for IN
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M4.1 Definition and validation of multi-purpose radio access protocols
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M7.3 Definition of indoor PoC
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M2.1 Exhaustive simulations of O-RAN in IN
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M6.1 Definition and validation of RF design for IN
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %
  • M7.4 Availability of HW/FW platform for indoor PoC
    Expected: 1
    Accomplished: 0
    Readiness level = 0 %

Collaboration proposals:

IN spans various Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) topics:

  • Mobile Radio Network Architectures
  • AI in Wireless Communications
  • Network Planning
  • Data Analysis
  • Wireless Power Transfer
  • Radio-over-Fiber Design
  • Proof of Concepts

The project seeks collaborations with industry stakeholders, PMIs, and consortia to enhance telecommunication’s role in the Italian Manufacturing sector.

Additionally, IN aims for synergies with network operators, manufacturers, universities, and R&D centers to integrate expertise and explore innovative research avenues. In RESTART, IN aligns with projects like SUPER, SERICS, and 6G-WINET for shared advancements.

For any proposal of collaboration within the project please contact the project PI.

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