The Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) has presented a new testbed for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). The platform makes it possible to analyze and optimize real-time data transmission technologies under realistic conditions in terms of energy efficiency, latency and reliability. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of TSN with Li-Fi optical wireless technology.

With the new testbed, IPMS was able to implement a wireless TSN connection via Li-Fi for the first time. This combination is particularly relevant for mobile industrial applications such as autonomous robots, where wireless and low-latency communication is required.

"We have tested three of our Li-Fi links. All of them offer a high data rate, reliability and low latency," explains Dr. René 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."

The testbed supports central TSN standards such as IEEE 802.1AS gPTP, IEEE 802.1Qbv-2015 and IEEE 802.1Qbu-2016, which enable precise time synchronization and redundant data paths to increase reliability. The platform allows investigations in simple point-to-point connections as well as in complex networks with multiple switches and endpoints. It is based on a portfolio of IP cores from IPMS with data rates of up to 25 Gbit/s.

A special feature of the testbed is the ability to evaluate the energy efficiency of TSN systems in real-life scenarios. As comparable benchmarks were previously lacking, the platform offers valid reference values for the first time. Future research work should further increase energy efficiency.

Fraunhofer IPMS also makes the testbed available to industrial partners to test and further develop their own applications.