VINES | Mission Critical Semantic Communications in NextG Networks for Smart Manufacturing

3-year US-Finland joint project on the application of foundational semantic communication to private networking technologies, spatial AI, and robotics

  • Funded by: Business Finland and National Science Foundation, US
  • Partners: Aalto University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stevens Institute of Technology, Nokia Bell Lab
  • Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • Budget: 1M€ for Aalto
  • Period: Jul 2026–Jun 2029

abstract

Next-Generation (NextG) networks will build on the continuum of communication and computing, from the core to the edge, to drastically improve the network KPIs in terms of coverage, throughput, and latency. This is envisioned by 3GPP in TS 32.150 and discussed in the 3GPP 6G System Architecture (SA) 2 study group towards 6G networks. The integration of communication and computing is becoming particularly prevalent in private wireless deployments for mission-critical industry systems such as autonomous robotics, tactical surveillance, autonomous vehicles, and smart manufacturing. In such deployments, situational awareness of physical space is a key requirement. In this project we bring together an international US/Finland team with extensive experience in private networking technologies, spatial AI and robotics, to address the numerous challenges associated with situational awareness for industry. We will focus on applying recent foundational results in semantic communications to concrete challenges arising in the smart manufacturing vertical.