Projects

Wireless systems are central to the digital evolution of society and industry. As KPI-driven 5G technology already fell short of its expectations, we aim to engage closely with stakeholders to understand their specific connectivity needs, challenges, and priorities. As a result, we emphasize participating in projects that concentrate on the R&D of wireless systems, embodying sustainability, resilience, adaptability, and, importantly, alignment with industry/society demands.

SafeWork: Workforce Location Management for Safe Automated Industries 

(2023-2025)

Partners

Synopsis: To create safe working conditions in automated industries by developing a workforce location management system through cooperation that exploits partners' independent activities and specializations in wireless positioning, sensor data fusion, and edge computing. 

Developed countries' industrial and manufacturing sectors, particularly in the Baltic Sea region (BSR) with its substantial industrial portfolio, are witnessing a steady progression in automation. However, this progress has brought the importance of workers' safety to the fore. Workers in industrial sites face difficult conditions characterized by frequent interactions between people and large-scale machines, posing significant risks to their health and safety. Hazardous events apply to heavy equipment operating in limited visibility and to highly automated production lines with multiple logistics routes and machine working areas. Eurostat's report on accidents at work in 2020 highlights 2.7 million cases, with typical contact injuries being struck by a moving object/collision, hitting a stationary object, and entrapment or crushing. Therefore, providing workers with adequate protection and support is essential to minimize the potential for accidents and injuries that can lead to long-term negative impacts on employees' health and costly downtimes for organizations.

To enhance worksite safety and prevent workforce-related accidents, this project proposes using a workforce location management system that detects people, vehicles, assets, and potential hazards in real time. By utilizing predictive motion analysis and the positioning capabilities of new-generation cellular networks, the system provides a flexible solution that can be adapted to various industrial settings. Although creating a scalable technology for enterprises/SMEs can be complex, the potential benefits make it a valuable investment in creating a safer working environment. Additionally, the project aims to create opportunities for industries in BSR to adopt the latest safety technology, prioritize environmentally friendly and resilient ICT solutions, and develop a highly skilled workforce in the ICT sector, attracting talent to the BSR and creating opportunities for future experts.

The main technical work packages are:

WP2-Carrier-phase estimation (CPE): Complementing positioning solutions/measurements with CPE and developing proper/realistic measurement and evaluation setup.

WP3-Signaling and radio resource design: Developing signaling and intelligent radio resource allocation schemes with respect to different measurement and signal processing techniques.

WP4-Data fusion and location management function: To develop data fusion and validation techniques and algorithms for developing location management function.

WP5-Edge computing: Incorporating edge computing for mobility prediction, position estimation, and resource allocation into location management function design.

WP6-Prototype development and testing: To develop and test a prototype of the proposed solutions through designing the hardware and software components, integrating the partner solutions in the prototype, and conducting tests in a controlled environment.

Flexible 6G Radio System Design using Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS): 

A Collaborative Project between Sweden and the USA

(2023-2025)

Partners

Synopsis: This project is an initiation of collaboration between Mid Sweden University (MIUN, Sweden) and the University of Houston, Texas (UH, USA) toward sharing knowledge and research expertise on the reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-aided multi-purpose 6G radio system design for sensing, communication, and localization. The upcoming 6G wireless networks aim to embrace new indoor use cases focusing on smart industries wherein intelligent network design that integrates communication, sensing, and localization can help realize various smart applications. The newly introduced RIS technology can customize the radio channel by adjusting the phase shifts of the signals reflected by the surface, making it suitable for optimizing communication, detection, and localization of objects, especially when the direct wireless path falls short due to prevalent indoor blockages. This collaborative project aims to set up and exchange research methods between Sweden and USA to explore challenges, use cases, and innovative solutions for RIS-aided radio system design. The collaboration involves exchanging research and education methods, bilateral visits for research and short courses, co-organized workshops, and joint supervision of M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. 

ENSURE-6G: RemotE seNsing and data fuSion integration for IndUstrial logistics in Rural ArEas with 6G

(2023-2026)

Partners

Synopsis: Sweden, Finland, and Norway share the same challenges with large rural areas and long supply chains, which is a prerequisite and a lifeline for regional growth and development. Trends show that the supply chain and logistics require fast-paced efforts toward intelligent and automated operations for increased efficiency, transparency, safety, and competitiveness. This challenge could be addressed with the ICT (Information and Communications Technology)-driven green transition to identify the supply chain requirements and issues early and react proactively. This project aims to develop symbiotic functions or digital enablers of the industrial logistics infrastructure in rural areas, for example, the digitalization of rail networks. The goal is to increase the level of remote monitoring and control and to be able to react to various conditions proactively. 

To enable this, the system needs enhanced remote sensing capabilities, seamless wireless connectivity through advanced technologies like 5G/6G and others, and intelligent data fusion techniques at the Edge and cloud levels. This will need to function for various supply chain segments in remote areas. Ensure-6G aims to develop the symbiotic functions of the industrial logistics infrastructure in rural areas by integrating remote sensing with data fusion at the edge through wireless connectivity (5G/6G). It will build on the available knowledge in remote sensing and potential wireless connectivity technologies for beyond 5G/6G and propose specific solutions that 

STC Perspective: Sensible Things that Communicate (STC) research center at Mid Sweden University aims to enhance sensor-based systems and services through industrial IoT, 5G-and-beyond, and AI domains for application-driven research and development in collaboration with (inter-)national academic and industrial partners. The proposed project perfectly aligns with these goals and synergizes with ongoing projects and activities.  Our contributions are;  developing the right (considering energy-performance tradeoff) connectivity infrastructure for intelligent yet low-cost IoT sensors, distributed network intelligence on communication and computing; integration framework and APIs for analytics engine; demonstrating the selected solutions as a surveillance system in industrial logistics. Naturally, these contributions are planned jointly with our strategic partner Starbit and the University of Oulu.

Robust wireless infrastructure for remotely controlled timber management


(a.k.a Remote Timber 2)

(2023-2024)

Partners

Background: This project builds on the success and learned lessons of the "Remote Timber - Robust and safe systems for remotely controlled timber loaders" initiative funded by Vinnova. The original project aimed to enhance safety and productivity in timber handling while exploring 5G's potential for automation. Remote Timber demonstrated remote control of high-lift wheel loaders using 5G via extensive trials at the Torsboda timber terminal in Northern Sweden. This showcased 5G's reliable connectivity for automation in timber handling. Trial details and results are explained in our magazine article:

A. Mahmood, S. Fakhrul Abedin, M. O’Nils, M. Bergman, and M. Gidlund, 

“Remote-Timber: An outlook for teleoperated forestry with first 5G measurements,” 

IEEE Industrial Electronics Magazine, pp. 2–14, 2023

Synopsis: Remote Timber showed the benefit and possibility of introducing remote control at timber terminals, but a number of challenges were also identified. This project focuses on the challenges associated with 5G connectivity infrastructure for timber handling through development and cooperation between companies in Sweden. Remote Timber II will conduct R&D on the following issues to enable reliable 5G communication for timber loaders.

Past Projects - to be updated