6G | Space Articles http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 22:51:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 6G | Space: AI for networking http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-ai-for-networking/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:37:30 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=955056 Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize networking, creating intelligent systems that optimize performance, adapt to dynamic environments, and enhance user experiences. Large-scale deployments of low Earth orbit satellites collect massive amount of Earth imageries and sensor data, but it is increasingly infeasible to download all the high-resolution images and train the corresponding […]

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space connections 6G - AI for networking; illustration of Ai controlling robotic arms

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize networking, creating intelligent systems that optimize performance, adapt to dynamic environments, and enhance user experiences.

space connections 6G - AI training in space diagram

Artificial intelligence training in space

Large-scale deployments of low Earth orbit satellites collect massive amount of Earth imageries and sensor data, but it is increasingly infeasible to download all the high-resolution images and train the corresponding AI models on the ground. In this project, we focus on novel distributed and federated learning frameworks (opens in new tab) that enables ground stations and satellites collaboratively train AI models without downloading all the data to the ground.

Related vertical(s): Edge computing

space 6G - diagram of the cloudification of network stack for IoT in space

Cloudification of network stack for IoT in space

The “new space” revolution is bringing about a new era of innovation and possibility in the industry as private companies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible by launching thousands of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. One of the most exciting developments is the use of small IoT picosatellites (picosats) that envisions offering a cost-effective way to connect millions of IoT devices around the world that may not have access to terrestrial networks. The small size and low-complexity hardware of these satellites make them easy to build and launch into orbit, resulting in rapid scaling of IoT picosat networks. As picosat constellations scale, their traditional networking stack becomes the bottleneck because it does not incorporate constraints specific to picosat constellations. In this project, we innovate a new end-to-end networking stack for IoT in space by introducing cloudification of the network stack.

Related vertical(s): IoT

space 6G - connected network nodes around a globe overlaid with '6G' hovering above an extended AI robotic hand

Leveraging AI for Pruning Control Overhead in 5G/6G

Networks In this project, we are leveraging AI and data driven tools to develop technologies that can help reduce the control overheads in 5G and future 6G cellular networks. The project tackles both header information encoded in data packets at different layers of the network stack, as well as control messages that are exchanged between the user device and the cellular RAN and core to manage functions like device registration and handoffs. Traditional network protocol design has maintained a logical separation between the user plane and the control plane. However, this project aims to break this separation and leverages correlated traffic and user patterns from the data plane to implicitly infer control plane events without the need to explicitly transmit control messages on the network. This would help improve network performance in terms of throughput and latency and would allow us to handle control events like handoffs proactively rather than reactively.

Related vertical(s): none

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]]> 6G | Space: Edge computing http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-edge-computing/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:36:47 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=955119 With a focus on edge computing, we bring computational power closer to the source, reducing latency and enhancing real-time processing capabilities. Large-scale deployments of low Earth orbit satellites collect massive amount of Earth imageries and sensor data, but it is increasingly infeasible to download all the high-resolution images and train the corresponding AI models on […]

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woman wearing a hardhat walking across a factory floor with an overlay of cloud, server and edge-computing icons

With a focus on edge computing, we bring computational power closer to the source, reducing latency and enhancing real-time processing capabilities.

space connections 6G - AI training in space diagram

Artificial intelligence training in space

Large-scale deployments of low Earth orbit satellites collect massive amount of Earth imageries and sensor data, but it is increasingly infeasible to download all the high-resolution images and train the corresponding AI models on the ground. In this project, we focus on novel distributed and federated learning frameworks (opens in new tab) that enables ground stations and satellites collaboratively train AI models without downloading all the data to the ground.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity

Image of Sentinel-2 satellite scanning a section of Earth; Photo: ESA/Astrium

Context-aware compression of satellite imagery in space

Transmitting raw space imagery data to the ground for processing presents difficulties due to limited network bandwidth, resulting in data being captured in restricted modes and taking hours to days to downlink. To address this, compression right in space is a more promising approach to reduce the amount of data transmitted. However, current compression techniques treat all pixels as having equal weight, despite not all parts of an image being equally important. Our proposed solution, Earth+, is a smart filtering and compression method that is implemented directly on the satellite. Earth+ leverages the rich historical dataset on earth to intelligently select a reference image that best represents the near future and uploads it to the satellite. Utilizing lightweight context-aware cloud detection and diff-based comparison, Earth+ identifies only the changed areas and transmits them back to earth, thereby significantly reducing data transmission volume.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity

space connections 6G - Kodan; illustration of the Earth surrounded by six computers in space

Kodan: Edgifying satellite applications for on-board computation in space

The decreasing costs of deploying space vehicles to low-Earth orbit have led to the emergence of large constellations of satellites. However, the high speeds of the satellites, the large sizes of image data, and the short ground station contacts have created a challenge for data downlink. Orbital edge computing (OEC) can filter data at the space edge and address the downlink bottleneck, but it shifts the challenge to the limited computation capacity onboard satellites. We present Kodan, an OEC system designed to maximize the utility of saturated satellite downlinks while mitigating the constraints of the computational bottleneck. Kodan has two phases: a one-time transformation step that uses a reference implementation of a satellite data analysis app, along with a representative dataset, to produce a set of specialized ML models targeted for deployment to the space edge. After deployment to a target satellite, a runtime system dynamically selects the best specialized model for each data sample to maximize valuable data downlinked within the constraints of the computational bottleneck.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity

The post 6G | Space: Edge computing appeared first on Microsoft Research.

]]> 6G | Space: Internet of things (IoT) http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-internet-of-things-iot/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:36:06 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=955065 The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a crucial role in our endeavors, as we integrate an ever-expanding network of interconnected devices, fostering a digitally interwoven world. The “new space” revolution is bringing about a new era of innovation and possibility in the industry as private companies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible by […]

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space connections 6G - Internet of Things (IoT); concept image of cloud computing technology and Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a crucial role in our endeavors, as we integrate an ever-expanding network of interconnected devices, fostering a digitally interwoven world.

space 6G - diagram of the cloudification of network stack for IoT in space

Cloudification of network stack for IoT in space

The “new space” revolution is bringing about a new era of innovation and possibility in the industry as private companies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible by launching thousands of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. One of the most exciting developments is the use of small IoT picosatellites (picosats) that envisions offering a cost-effective way to connect millions of IoT devices around the world that may not have access to terrestrial networks. The small size and low-complexity hardware of these satellites make them easy to build and launch into orbit, resulting in rapid scaling of IoT picosat networks. As picosat constellations scale, their traditional networking stack becomes the bottleneck because it does not incorporate constraints specific to picosat constellations. In this project, we innovate a new end-to-end networking stack for IoT in space by introducing cloudification of the network stack.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity

Space 6G - image of satellite over a coastline; photo by SpaceX on Unsplash

Echo: Ultra low-power satellite communication

Project Echo is focused on developing ultra-low-power satellite communication to reliably connect devices in resource constrained environments. We believe that these new wireless communication techniques will lead to the next generation of IoT devices for applications ranging from smart agriculture to communication in space.

Related vertical(s): Ultra-low-power connectivity

FarmVibes FarmBeats - image of farm with AI data overlay

FoodVibes: Wireless sensing and communication for food supply chain traceability

At Microsoft Research, we are working towards a fully digitized and connected supply chain for agriculture and food. With the growing human population, there is a need to responsibly and sustainably meet the global food demands. Towards this goal, FoodVibes identifies critical traceability points in the global Agri Food Industry that are responsible for inefficiency and applies technological innovation to address key challenges faced by the industry. By leveraging our research in wireless communication, battery-free and IoT sensing, we are establishing traceability for key metrics related to nutrition, sustainability, and quality of the food that nourishes the global population. Some of these key challenges being addressed include creating traceability from farm to fork, especially for bulk commodities like grain, tracking the produce environment during transport and storage with novel sensing infrastructure and a communication scheme to ensure global connectivity to support this supply chain.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity | Ultra-low-power connectivity

space 6G - diagram of TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum

IoT in TV White Space spectrum

The deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) networks has rapidly increased over recent years – to connect homes, cities, farms, and many other industries. Today, these networks rely on connectivity solutions, such as LoRaWAN, operating in the ISM bands. Our experience from deployments in multiple countries has shown that such networks are bottlenecked by range and bandwidth. Therefore, we propose a new connectivity solution operating in TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum, where narrowband devices configured for IoT can opportunistically transmit data, while protecting incumbents from receiving harmful interference.

Related vertical(s): New spectrum and sharing

space 6G - diagram showing low latency distributed downlink for low Earth orbit satellites

Low latency distributed downlink for low Earth orbit satellites

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for Earth observation and IoT have become very popular in recent years. The earth observation satellites collect hundreds of Gigabytes of imagery during their orbit. This data needs to be downloaded using ground stations on Earth. However, due to the low altitudes, the satellites move fast with respect to a ground station on Earth, and consequently, have a few minutes time window to download the data to a single station. Although an LEO IoT satellite aggregates comparatively much lower amount of data, it uses very low data rate link to download the data. It, in turn, has a very negative impact on the freshness of data and overall throughput of the satellite networks. We propose a geographically distributed ground station design, DGS that improves robustness and reduces downlink latency. DGS is the first system to use a hybrid ground station model, where only a subset of ground stations are uplink-capable.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity

Space 6G - SatSense - photo of a vast landscape with a networked natural icon overlay

SatSense: Sensing the Environment using Satellites

Project SatSense is focused on using satellite telemetry to develop new techniques for environmental monitoring. We believe this will lead to gaining accurate insights about today’s ecosystem at large-scale including forestry, agriculture, oil & gas, among others.

Related vertical(s): Ultra-low-power connectivity

space 6G - spectrum sharing ; color spectrum band

Spectrum sharing between satellite and terrestrial networks

In a world where space and terrestrial networks are expanding at an unprecedented pace, it is critical to ensure that the radio spectrum, a finite resource, is utilized to benefit both types of networks. To achieve this, it is essential to have an inclusive spectrum management technology that can facilitate efficient spectrum sharing. We introduce our innovative solutions that enable spectrum sharing in two ways. Firstly, our cutting-edge NextG AI-driven spectrum database creates a new spectrum awareness service that ensures effective management of the spectrum. Secondly, our spectrum exploitation techniques leverage satellite artifacts that embed unique attributes in the RF signal transmitted from each satellite, enabling coexistence with other networks. Our innovations have been tested and evaluated in a real-world satellite network, providing compelling evidence of their efficacy. With these groundbreaking solutions, we are confident that we can overcome the challenges of managing the radio spectrum and drive forward a new era of progress and innovation in both terrestrial and space networks.

Related vertical(s): Space connectivity | New spectrum and sharing

The post 6G | Space: Internet of things (IoT) appeared first on Microsoft Research.

]]> 6G | Space: New spectrum and sharing http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-new-spectrum-and-sharing/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:35:01 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=955080 Exploring new spectrums like terahertz and spectrum sharing mechanisms, we unlock previously untapped opportunities, maximizing the efficiency and capacity of our networks. The deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) networks has rapidly increased over recent years – to connect homes, cities, farms, and many other industries. Today, these networks rely on connectivity solutions, such as […]

The post 6G | Space: New spectrum and sharing appeared first on Microsoft Research.

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space 6G - spectrum sharing ; color spectrum band

Exploring new spectrums like terahertz and spectrum sharing mechanisms, we unlock previously untapped opportunities, maximizing the efficiency and capacity of our networks.

space 6G - diagram of TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum

IoT in TV White Space spectrum

The deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) networks has rapidly increased over recent years – to connect homes, cities, farms, and many other industries. Today, these networks rely on connectivity solutions, such as LoRaWAN, operating in the ISM bands. Our experience from deployments in multiple countries has shown that such networks are bottlenecked by range and bandwidth. Therefore, we propose a new connectivity solution operating in TV White Space (TVWS) spectrum, where narrowband devices configured for IoT can opportunistically transmit data, while protecting incumbents from receiving harmful interference.

Related vertical(s): IoT

smart surface; close-up of a reflective prism

Smart Surface

We explore the connections between reflective / metamaterial surfaces and next-generation wireless networks. 6G wireless network promises much faster and better wireless connectivity to cover residential, commercial, and industrial environments, as it uses larger bandwidth and higher wireless frequencies, e.g., mmWave, cmWave, and terahertz. However, the propagation of these high frequency wireless signals is heavily subject to the environment. The distribution of wireless signal strength is random and uneven across the covered area due to the ambient reflectors, blockage, and moving objects like human body. Thus, maintaining a consistent high throughput broadband wireless channel between the user and the access point is challenging. We ask – “Can we establish consistent high-throughput connections for terahertz and cmWave communication in a low-cost and scalable way?” Stay tuned.

Related vertical(s): Smart surfaces

space 6G - spectrum sharing ; color spectrum band

Spectrum sharing between satellite and terrestrial networks

In a world where space and terrestrial networks are expanding at an unprecedented pace, it is critical to ensure that the radio spectrum, a finite resource, is utilized to benefit both types of networks. To achieve this, it is essential to have an inclusive spectrum management technology that can facilitate efficient spectrum sharing. We introduce our innovative solutions that enable spectrum sharing in two ways. Firstly, our cutting-edge NextG AI-driven spectrum database creates a new spectrum awareness service that ensures effective management of the spectrum. Secondly, our spectrum exploitation techniques leverage satellite artifacts that embed unique attributes in the RF signal transmitted from each satellite, enabling coexistence with other networks. Our innovations have been tested and evaluated in a real-world satellite network, providing compelling evidence of their efficacy. With these groundbreaking solutions, we are confident that we can overcome the challenges of managing the radio spectrum and drive forward a new era of progress and innovation in both terrestrial and space networks.

Related vertical(s): IoT | Space connectivity

The post 6G | Space: New spectrum and sharing appeared first on Microsoft Research.

]]> 6G | Space: Smart surfaces http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-smart-surfaces/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:33:54 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=955113 We embrace the concept of smart surfaces, leveraging intelligent materials and interfaces to enable ubiquitous connectivity in our physical environments. We explore the connections between reflective / metamaterial surfaces and next-generation wireless networks. 6G wireless network promises much faster and better wireless connectivity to cover residential, commercial, and industrial environments, as it uses larger bandwidth […]

The post 6G | Space: Smart surfaces appeared first on Microsoft Research.

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smart surface; close-up of a reflective prism

We embrace the concept of smart surfaces, leveraging intelligent materials and interfaces to enable ubiquitous connectivity in our physical environments.

smart surface; close-up of a reflective prism

Smart Surface

We explore the connections between reflective / metamaterial surfaces and next-generation wireless networks. 6G wireless network promises much faster and better wireless connectivity to cover residential, commercial, and industrial environments, as it uses larger bandwidth and higher wireless frequencies, e.g., mmWave, cmWave, and terahertz. However, the propagation of these high frequency wireless signals is heavily subject to the environment. The distribution of wireless signal strength is random and uneven across the covered area due to the ambient reflectors, blockage, and moving objects like human body. Thus, maintaining a consistent high throughput broadband wireless channel between the user and the access point is challenging. We ask – “Can we establish consistent high-throughput connections for terahertz and cmWave communication in a low-cost and scalable way?” Stay tuned.

Related vertical(s): New spectrum and sharing

The post 6G | Space: Smart surfaces appeared first on Microsoft Research.

]]> 6G | Space: Space connectivity http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-space-connectivity/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:33:03 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=953181 Leveraging the vast potential of satellites and space-based infrastructure to bring seamless and ubiquitous connectivity to even the most remote areas. Large-scale deployments of low Earth orbit satellites collect massive amount of Earth imageries and sensor data, but it is increasingly infeasible to download all the high-resolution images and train the corresponding AI models on […]

The post 6G | Space: Space connectivity appeared first on Microsoft Research.

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space connections 6G - space connectivity; illustration of three satellites in communication with Earth

Leveraging the vast potential of satellites and space-based infrastructure to bring seamless and ubiquitous connectivity to even the most remote areas.

space connections 6G - AI training in space diagram

Artificial intelligence training in space

Large-scale deployments of low Earth orbit satellites collect massive amount of Earth imageries and sensor data, but it is increasingly infeasible to download all the high-resolution images and train the corresponding AI models on the ground. In this project, we focus on novel distributed and federated learning frameworks (opens in new tab) that enables ground stations and satellites collaboratively train AI models without downloading all the data to the ground.

Related vertical(s): Edge computing

space 6G - diagram of the cloudification of network stack for IoT in space

Cloudification of network stack for IoT in space

The “new space” revolution is bringing about a new era of innovation and possibility in the industry as private companies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible by launching thousands of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. One of the most exciting developments is the use of small IoT picosatellites (picosats) that envisions offering a cost-effective way to connect millions of IoT devices around the world that may not have access to terrestrial networks. The small size and low-complexity hardware of these satellites make them easy to build and launch into orbit, resulting in rapid scaling of IoT picosat networks. As picosat constellations scale, their traditional networking stack becomes the bottleneck because it does not incorporate constraints specific to picosat constellations. In this project, we innovate a new end-to-end networking stack for IoT in space by introducing cloudification of the network stack.

Related vertical(s): IoT

Space 6G - Image of Sentinel-2 satellite scanning a section of Earth; Photo: ESA/Astrium

Context-aware compression of satellite imagery in space

Transmitting raw space imagery data to the ground for processing presents difficulties due to limited network bandwidth, resulting in data being captured in restricted modes and taking hours to days to downlink. To address this, compression right in space is a more promising approach to reduce the amount of data transmitted. However, current compression techniques treat all pixels as having equal weight, despite not all parts of an image being equally important. Our proposed solution, Earth+, is a smart filtering and compression method that is implemented directly on the satellite. Earth+ leverages the rich historical dataset on earth to intelligently select a reference image that best represents the near future and uploads it to the satellite. Utilizing lightweight context-aware cloud detection and diff-based comparison, Earth+ identifies only the changed areas and transmits them back to earth, thereby significantly reducing data transmission volume.

Related vertical(s): Edge computing

FarmVibes FarmBeats - image of farm with AI data overlay

FoodVibes: Wireless sensing and communication for food supply chain traceability

At Microsoft Research, we are working towards a fully digitized and connected supply chain for agriculture and food. With the growing human population, there is a need to responsibly and sustainably meet the global food demands. Towards this goal, FoodVibes identifies critical traceability points in the global Agri Food Industry that are responsible for inefficiency and applies technological innovation to address key challenges faced by the industry. By leveraging our research in wireless communication, battery-free and IoT sensing, we are establishing traceability for key metrics related to nutrition, sustainability, and quality of the food that nourishes the global population. Some of these key challenges being addressed include creating traceability from farm to fork, especially for bulk commodities like grain, tracking the produce environment during transport and storage with novel sensing infrastructure and a communication scheme to ensure global connectivity to support this supply chain.

Related vertical(s): IoT | Ultra-low-power connectivity

space connections 6G - Kodan; illustration of the Earth surrounded by six computers in space

Kodan: Edgifying satellite applications for on-board computation in space

The decreasing costs of deploying space vehicles to low-Earth orbit have led to the emergence of large constellations of satellites. However, the high speeds of the satellites, the large sizes of image data, and the short ground station contacts have created a challenge for data downlink. Orbital edge computing (OEC) can filter data at the space edge and address the downlink bottleneck, but it shifts the challenge to the limited computation capacity onboard satellites. We present Kodan, an OEC system designed to maximize the utility of saturated satellite downlinks while mitigating the constraints of the computational bottleneck. Kodan has two phases: a one-time transformation step that uses a reference implementation of a satellite data analysis app, along with a representative dataset, to produce a set of specialized ML models targeted for deployment to the space edge. After deployment to a target satellite, a runtime system dynamically selects the best specialized model for each data sample to maximize valuable data downlinked within the constraints of the computational bottleneck.

Related vertical(s): Edge computing

space 6G - diagram showing low latency distributed downlink for low Earth orbit satellites

Low latency distributed downlink for low Earth orbit satellites

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for Earth observation and IoT have become very popular in recent years. The earth observation satellites collect hundreds of Gigabytes of imagery during their orbit. This data needs to be downloaded using ground stations on Earth. However, due to the low altitudes, the satellites move fast with respect to a ground station on Earth, and consequently, have a few minutes time window to download the data to a single station. Although an LEO IoT satellite aggregates comparatively much lower amount of data, it uses very low data rate link to download the data. It, in turn, has a very negative impact on the freshness of data and overall throughput of the satellite networks. We propose a geographically distributed ground station design, DGS that improves robustness and reduces downlink latency. DGS is the first system to use a hybrid ground station model, where only a subset of ground stations are uplink-capable.

Related vertical(s): IoT

space 6G - spectrum sharing ; color spectrum band

Spectrum sharing between satellite and terrestrial networks

In a world where space and terrestrial networks are expanding at an unprecedented pace, it is critical to ensure that the radio spectrum, a finite resource, is utilized to benefit both types of networks. To achieve this, it is essential to have an inclusive spectrum management technology that can facilitate efficient spectrum sharing. We introduce our innovative solutions that enable spectrum sharing in two ways. Firstly, our cutting-edge NextG AI-driven spectrum database creates a new spectrum awareness service that ensures effective management of the spectrum. Secondly, our spectrum exploitation techniques leverage satellite artifacts that embed unique attributes in the RF signal transmitted from each satellite, enabling coexistence with other networks. Our innovations have been tested and evaluated in a real-world satellite network, providing compelling evidence of their efficacy. With these groundbreaking solutions, we are confident that we can overcome the challenges of managing the radio spectrum and drive forward a new era of progress and innovation in both terrestrial and space networks.

Related vertical(s): IoT | New spectrum and sharing

The post 6G | Space: Space connectivity appeared first on Microsoft Research.

]]> 6G | Space: Ultra low-power connectivity http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/articles/6g-space-ultra-low-power-connectivity/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:30:43 +0000 http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/?post_type=msr-blog-post&p=955125 Driving advancements in ultra-low-power connectivity, enabling devices to operate efficiently and sustainably, even in resource-constrained environments. Project Echo is focused on developing ultra-low-power satellite communication to reliably connect devices in resource constrained environments. We believe that these new wireless communication techniques will lead to the next generation of IoT devices for applications ranging from smart […]

The post 6G | Space: Ultra low-power connectivity appeared first on Microsoft Research.

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space connections 6G - low power connectivity; Small RFID NFC labels on tip of finger

Driving advancements in ultra-low-power connectivity, enabling devices to operate efficiently and sustainably, even in resource-constrained environments.

Space 6G - image of satellite over a coastline; photo by SpaceX on Unsplash

Echo: Ultra low-power satellite communication

Project Echo is focused on developing ultra-low-power satellite communication to reliably connect devices in resource constrained environments. We believe that these new wireless communication techniques will lead to the next generation of IoT devices for applications ranging from smart agriculture to communication in space.

Related vertical(s): IoT

FarmVibes FarmBeats - image of farm with AI data overlay

FoodVibes: Wireless sensing and communication for food supply chain traceability

At Microsoft Research, we are working towards a fully digitized and connected supply chain for agriculture and food. With the growing human population, there is a need to responsibly and sustainably meet the global food demands. Towards this goal, FoodVibes identifies critical traceability points in the global Agri Food Industry that are responsible for inefficiency and applies technological innovation to address key challenges faced by the industry. By leveraging our research in wireless communication, battery-free and IoT sensing, we are establishing traceability for key metrics related to nutrition, sustainability, and quality of the food that nourishes the global population. Some of these key challenges being addressed include creating traceability from farm to fork, especially for bulk commodities like grain, tracking the produce environment during transport and storage with novel sensing infrastructure and a communication scheme to ensure global connectivity to support this supply chain.

Related vertical(s): IoT | Space connectivity

Space 6G - SatSense - photo of a vast landscape with a networked natural icon overlay

SatSense: Sensing the Environment using Satellites

Project SatSense is focused on using satellite telemetry to develop new techniques for environmental monitoring. We believe this will lead to gaining accurate insights about today’s ecosystem at large-scale including forestry, agriculture, oil & gas, among others.

Related vertical(s): IoT

The post 6G | Space: Ultra low-power connectivity appeared first on Microsoft Research.

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