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Time-Sensitive Networking over Wi-Fi Using Target Wake Time
keywords ENERGY EFFICIENCY, MACHINE LEARNING, ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS, TIME SENSITIVE NETWORKS, TIME-CRITICAL APPLICATIONS, WIFI
Reference persons CARLA FABIANA CHIASSERINI, CORRADO PULIGHEDDU
Research Groups Telecommunication Networks Group
Thesis type EXPERIMENTAL - DESIGN, EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Description Wi-Fi networks are known to be less effective for handling time-sensitive traffic, primarily due to the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism required by the IEEE 802.11 standard. CSMA/CA operates by listening to the channel before transmitting to avoid collisions; however, this results in unpredictable latency due to random backoff periods when the channel is busy, making it unsuitable for applications requiring strict timing.
A potential solution to improve performance for time-sensitive applications is to isolate the collision domain by leveraging the Target Wake Time (TWT) feature introduced in the IEEE 802.11ax standard. TWT enables stations to save energy by scheduling active and sleep periods, allowing them to "wake up" only when transmission is required. By knowing the traffic characteristics, it is possible to schedule non-overlapping TWT Service Periods (SPs) for each station, avoiding the need for random backoff and enhancing time-sensitive performance.
Objective
The thesis will focus on developing an extension to our TWT testbed architecture to enable ESP32-C6 boards to act as network bridges. This extension will allow the boards to receive traffic via an Ethernet interface and bridge it to the Wi-Fi interface, as well as in the opposite direction. To achieve this, the candidate will program custom firmware using the ESP-IDF SDK, configuring the Ethernet interface and ensuring seamless bridging functionality between the interfaces.
Methodology
Firmware Development: Using the ESP-IDF SDK, develop and configure firmware that enables ESP32-C6 boards to handle Ethernet and Wi-Fi traffic bridging. This includes initializing and managing Ethernet drivers, configuring bridging protocols, and ensuring stable, efficient data flow between interfaces.
Testbed Implementation: Set up a testbed with ESP32-C6 boards equipped with the newly developed firmware. Validate the system's ability to manage time-sensitive traffic by measuring latency and evaluating throughput performance under varying traffic loads and patterns.
Performance Evaluation: Measure improvements in time-sensitive traffic handling by testing the TWT-based architecture in scenarios with different traffic profiles. Evaluate the success of the solution in reducing latency and improving network predictability.
Required skills Programming skills in C or C++ and a foundational understanding of networking principles, particularly regarding Wi-Fi and Ethernet communication.
Familiarity with the ESP-IDF SDK and experience in embedded systems development would be a plus.
Deadline 07/11/2025
PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA