TIMES will investigate, theoretically analyze, design, develop, and showcase in a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) demonstrator, an innovative wireless communications concept addressing networks beyond 5G.
The long-term vision of TIMES is a THz-based smart radio ecosystem working in complex scenarios with a large number of heterogeneous devices capable of offering similar performance as wired networks in terms of data rate (Tbps), ultra-low-latency, sensing, and reliability, thus beyond the capability of current wireless networks.
To achieve such a long-term vision, TIMES will combine three (3) innovation pillars:
Pillar 1 Exploiting ultra-wide bandwidth and sensing-friendly characteristics of THz communications.
Pillar 2 Deploying intelligent mesh networks in smart propagation environments.
Pillar 3 Enabling high-definition integrated sensing and communications (ISAC).
Objectives
TIMES intends to pursue its targeted breakthrough by focusing on eight (8) constituent objectives:
- Derivation of new THz channel models based on measurements in industrial scenarios
- Design of novel solutions at the physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers
- Design and implementation of THz front-ends and antennas
- Design of a multi-goal mesh-based radio access network (RAN) composed of active nodes and intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs)
- Design and fabrication of IRSs operating at THz frequencies
- Integration of sensing and communications functionalities
- Definition of use cases and requirements for future industrial applications
- Realization and validation of a PoC in real industrial environments
Innovation Pillars | Objectives | Main Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Definition of use cases and requirements for future industrial applications | Identification of potential use cases |
Definition of KPIs | ||
THz communications | Derivation of new THz channel models based on measurements in industrial scenarios | THz channel measurements and modeling |
Characterization of EM exposure | ||
Design of novel solutions at the PHY and MAC layers | Ultra-massive MIMO in near field conditions | |
Coordination-free fast beamforming | ||
Signal processing at EM level | ||
Design and implementation of THz front-ends and antennas | 250-330 GHz highly integrated THz RF front-ends | |
Highly directive and beam-steerable antennas | ||
Intelligent Mesh Networking in Smart propagation environments | Design of a multi-goal mesh-based radio access network composed of active nodes and IRSs | Mesh topology with active nodes and IRSs |
Support to heterogeneous services and devices | ||
Efficient and reliable transmissions over multiple links | ||
Design and fabrication of IRSs operating at THz frequencies | 300 GHz configurable IRSs made of metamaterials | |
Novel fabrication techniques | ||
Integrated Sensing and Communications | Integration of sensing and communications functionalities | High spatial-temporal awareness in LOS and NLOS |
See-around-the-corner functionality with IRSs | ||
Enhanced localization through near field propagation | ||
| Realization and validation of a PoC in real industrial environments | Integration of THz RF front-ends, antennas, and IRSs |
Multiple THz links between static and mobile nodes through IRSs |