The transition to Industry 4.0 is a cornerstone of the digitalisation of society and the economy. In the future, digitalisation will make work processes more efficient and reduce the direct effort required from people in production. A first step towards networked production has already been taken with the introduction of 5G campus networks. However, these technologies are not yet very widespread and the networks are relatively complex. This is due to the fact that specialised mobile communications expertise is required to set up and operate the campus networks. For a complete digitalisation of industry, it is therefore desirable to develop concepts for campus networks that allow small and medium-sized enterprises easy access to innovative network technologies. This can be achieved, for example, by reducing the complexity of the network or simplifying the functions individually.

The aim of the ‘Open-RAN-based campus network for industrial real-time applications (6G-Terafactory)’ project is to develop an open network architecture for campus networks in a digitalised factory. The campus networks are to be realised from scratch in a ‘bottom-up’ process and initially only have basic functionalities. Building on an open RAN approach, forward compatibility with future 6G functions will be implemented in order to customise campus networks to the needs of end users in the future. Overall, this should reduce the complexity of the networks and thus create a blueprint for campus networks ‘out-of-the-box’. The campus network architecture developed in this way will be integrated into a factory (the so-called Terafactory) during the course of the project, where it will be demonstrated and optimised in live operation in various load scenarios. The ‘out-of-the-box’ campus networks to be developed in the project can also be used in the future by companies without specialised mobile communications knowledge. The project results thus also enable small and medium-sized companies to take the step towards Industry 4.0 and the networked factory. By focussing on an open RAN architecture with open interfaces instead of a monolithic structure, independence from large network equipment suppliers is increased and the market for network components is also opened up to smaller companies. The project can thus contribute directly to increasing product diversity in Germany and strengthen technological sovereignty in Germany and the European economic area.

• ADVA Optical Networking SE, Meiningen
• Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz GmbH, Kaiserslautern
• Hochschule Schmalkalden, Schmalkalden
• GESTALT Robotics GmbH, Berlin
• MetraLabs GmbH Neue Technologien und
• Systeme, Ilmenau

• ADVA Optical Networking SE

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Schrödel
Hochschule Schmalkalden
Blechhammer 9 in 98574 Schmalkalden
+49 (0)3683 688-2107
f.schroedel@hs-sm.de

• Runtime: 15.10.2022 - 30.09.2025
• Project volume: 4.3 million € (of which 68% funded by the BMBF)
• pdf (german): Open-RAN basiertes Campusnetz für industrielle Echtzeitanwendungen (6G-Terafactory)