Plan & Play – 5G campus networks

In the Plan & Play research project, TU Dortmund, Fraunhofer IML, and Riedel Communications are developing tools and solutions for the ad hoc planning and temporary operation of 5G campus networks. At the heart of the project is the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro, which features scalable radio field calculations and AI-based online network planning. The results are being tested in real-world intralogistics scenarios and at major events, such as at the Nürburgring, and serve as the basis for future applications and follow-up projects related to 5G campus networks.

Plan & Play addresses the challenge of deploying 5G campus networks quickly, on-demand, and locally—for example, for research facilities, logistics campuses, or large-scale temporary events. To this end, the project brings together requirements from two distinct application areas: intralogistics (Fraunhofer IML) and event operations (Riedel Communications). A joint requirements analysis, system architecture, and reference scenarios form the basis for the development of an end-to-end solution ranging from network planning to the actual deployment of temporary 5G campus networks.

The goal of Plan & Play is to simplify the planning and operation of local 5G campus networks for temporary deployments. To this end, the project focuses on several key areas:

• Development of the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro with scalable radio field calculations
• Integration of AI-based online network planning using reinforcement learning
• (Partial) automation of the application process with the Federal Network Agency
• Further development of available 5G solutions for temporary use based on specific needs
• Validation of the plans in real 5G campus networks and demonstrators

This creates an end-to-end process: from planning and configuration of the 5G infrastructure to evaluation under real-world conditions in intralogistics environments and in event contexts.

Plan & Play focuses on two closely interlinked areas:

• PLAN: AI-based, automated network planning with the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro
• PLAY: Deployment and testing of 5G campus networks for temporary use

Key objectives:

• Automated planning of 5G campus networks using a web-based tool
• Technical preparation of the frequency application process (BNetzA)
• Deployment and measurement of 5G campus networks in real-world scenarios (intralogistics, motorsports)

“Plan & Play demonstrates how AI-based network planning and flexible 5G hardware enable a robust ad hoc communication infrastructure in intralogistics and at large-scale events. We were able to demonstrate this in the project using real-world demonstrators that were planned, set up, and evaluated under real-world conditions.”
Sönke Kaufmann, Research scientist, researching 5G campus networks at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML

At the heart of Plan & Play is the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro. The tool has been developed and optimized over several releases: It supports the design of local 5G campus networks tailored to the requirements of intralogistics and event operations. Validation is performed using measurement campaigns in reference scenarios at Fraunhofer IML and at partner Riedel Communications.

• Integration of scalable radio field calculations, awarded a Best Paper Award by the IEEE
• AI-based online network planning using reinforcement learning
• Consideration of application requirements and regulatory frameworks
• Use of freely available external input data for network planning

The tool supports the design of local 5G campus networks tailored to the requirements of intralogistics and event operations. Validation is carried out through measurement campaigns in reference scenarios at Fraunhofer IML and at partner company Riedel Communications.

Intralogistics demonstrators at Fraunhofer IML

In the Plan & Play intralogistics use case, demonstrators at Fraunhofer IML show how 5G campus networks reliably connect autonomous logistics systems. A LoadRunner® was equipped with 5G technology as a driverless transport system and deployed in various intralogistics scenarios. Mobile reflector walls make it possible to compare the radio fields calculated with the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro against real measurement data and to specifically optimize 5G campus networks for highly dynamic sorting tasks.

A prime example is the 5G logistics demonstrator at the Fraunhofer IML logistics campus during the 3rd 5G.NRWeek 2022: The campus network for the LoadRunner® swarm was planned using the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro, set up ad hoc in the hall, and used for all communication in the parcel sorting scenario. This allows us to see how well simulated and real network performance align and how 5G campus networks can be designed for intralogistics applications.

5G campus networks at major events

For the application field of major events, Plan & Play demonstrates the potential of 5G campus networks using the Nürburgring race track as an example. Riedel Communications implemented a 5G campus network there, which had previously been planned using the 5G Campus Network Planner Pro, to investigate the suitability of 5G campus networks for professional event scenarios.

Using specially developed measurement equipment, radio propagation and network characteristics were recorded and compared with the intralogistics results from Fraunhofer IML. The Nürburgring real-world demonstrator thus serves as a key component for evaluating the deployment potential of temporary 5G campus networks for demanding applications in the professional event environment.

To further develop the 5G infrastructure for intralogistics, Fraunhofer IML developed so-called Multi-Purpose Users (MPUs).

• Module with single-board computer and 5G modem
• Connection of applications (e.g., AGV, LoadRunner® swarm) via Ethernet

Using the MPUs, various network users were set up and a comprehensive load test was conducted—both in the SDR-based 5G campus network and in a Wi-Fi network. The results showed:

• The SDR-based 5G campus network offers more stable latencies and data rates than Wi-Fi at high subscriber densities.
• At the same time, connection drops and packet loss occurred during high network utilization in the 5G network, which is attributed to the implementation of the 5G architecture on standard PC hardware using SDRs.

The conclusion: SDR-based 5G campus networks are well-suited for smaller-scale testing and research purposes with high configuration flexibility, whereas proprietary hardware is preferred for large-scale real-world applications to ensure reliable operation.

Plan & Play is closely linked to other activities at the 5G.NRW Competence Center. A collaboration with the University of Duisburg-Essen and TU Dortmund addresses edge computing and the re-identification of industrial entities:

• Identification and re-identification of pallet feet based on natural features
• Transmission of a video stream from an AGV or drone via a 5G campus network to an edge device
• Analysis of the data at the edge to support intralogistics processes

5G.NRW Competition; Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia