Is the data transferred fast enough? Where should the next server be located? Will feedback arrive on time? These questions are crucial for digitalization processes, particularly in Industry 4.0, autonomous driving and the use of virtual and augmented reality. The "EMULATE" research project at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts aims to provide the answers. Funding of 5.6 million euros is now available for this.
The project is part of an "Important Project of Common European Interest" (IPCEI). Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Business Studies and Climate Protection, it pursues ambitious research and innovation goals that go beyond the international state of the art. With "EMULATE", Fachhochschule Dortmund succeeded in being included in the IPCEI funding line "Cloud Infrastructure and Services". The project sponsors are VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH and the DLR Project Management Agency.
The "EMULATE" project aims to develop a planning and diagnostic tool for data transmission processes. A digital test environment to test the (wireless) connection between end devices and servers in a branched network and guarantee smooth transmission processes. "In less complex environments with less demanding services, such as a warehouse with automated goods recognition and control, it is sometimes sufficient to roughly estimate these data transmission processes," says Prof. Dr. Stephan Recker, Professor of IT System Integration at the Faculty of Computer Science at Fachhochschule Dortmund.
Outside a hall, the world is more complex, new users are added and disruptive factors play a role. With conventional methods, there is no certainty that the system will work before completion. "In emulation, we can try out use cases with ultra-low latency times without anyone having to spend a euro on hardware and cables," emphasizes Prof. Recker. This saves costs and resources. Particularly in the field of edge computing, decentralized data processing for data-intensive services such as autonomous driving and virtual reality, the "EMULATE" tool should make planning considerably easier and advance it throughout Europe.
"At the same time, we will be able to use the EMULATE diagnostic platform to optimize existing networks in the future," adds Prof. Dr. Rolf Schuster. He also teaches at the Faculty of Computer Science and is an expert in embedded software. AI technology helps to identify patterns in the data streams and thus, at best, prevent errors.
The "EMULATE" research project will run until the end of 2026, with Fachhochschule Dortmund working together with partners from industry.