TSN, Time Sensitive Networking, enables the transmission of time-critical information in real time, which is crucial for the next development stage of digitalization. In combination with Li-Fi, an optical data transmission technology, Fraunhofer IPMS has realized a wireless TSN real-time connection. This not only saves costs by eliminating the need for extensive cabling, but also enables new, mobile applications.
“We have tested three of our Li-Fi links. All of them offer a high data rate, reliability and low latency,” explains Dr. RenĂ© Kirrbach, group leader at Fraunhofer IPMS. “This allows us to provide real-time wireless connections that were previously not possible with radio technologies – not even with 5G. We are thus reaching the next level of digitalization and opening up applications that require wireless real-time data transmission, such as autonomous robots in factory automation.”
Energy efficiency is particularly important for mobile applications, as it has a direct impact on operating time. However, until now there have been no comparative values for the energy consumption of TSN in a practical environment. The testbed developed by Fraunhofer IPMS now offers such a benchmark for the first time. Further work by the researchers will focus on improving the energy efficiency of TSN even further.
Modular, realistic test environment for TSN systems
The TSN testbed supports several critical TSN standards, including IEEE 802.1AS gPTP, IEEE 802.1Qbv-2015 and IEEE 802.1Qbu-2016. These standards are crucial for precise time synchronization and ensure redundant data transmission. So if a data path fails – whether due to an interrupted internet connection or a faulty connector – the data is still transmitted without delay. This avoids downtime and increases reliability and is therefore particularly important in safety-critical applications.
The modular structure of the testbed makes it suitable for both point-to-point connections and complex networks with many components such as endpoints and switches. It is based on a comprehensive portfolio of TSN IP core technologies from Fraunhofer IPMS, which offer data rates of 1 Gbit/s, 10 Gbit/s and 25 Gbit/s.
Practical support for industry
The testbed enables companies and users to test the performance of TSN and Li-Fi for their applications and compare it with existing solutions. Aspects such as real-time capability, energy efficiency and reliability can be specifically analyzed. The testbed also provides space for testing completely new applications with TSN and Li-Fi. Fraunhofer IPMS supports this with its extensive expertise in the development, simulation and validation of TSN and Li-Fi solutions.
What is a testbed?
A testbed is a controlled, realistic test environment in which new technologies, systems or protocols can be tested and validated under realistic conditions. This allows various parameters such as performance, efficiency and reliability to be easily measured and compared. Especially for complex communication technologies such as Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), a testbed is essential for gaining practical insights and efficiently transferring innovations into applications.
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Further links
👉 www.ipms.fraunhofer.de
Photo: Fraunhofer IPMS
