CC* Integration-Large: Husker-Net: Open Nebraska End-to-End Wireless Edge Networks

CC* 大型集成：Husker-Net：开放内布拉斯加州端到端无线边缘网络

• 批准号: 2321699
• 负责人: Qiang Liu
• 金额: $ 87.5万
• 依托单位: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-10-01 至 2025-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2321699&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CC; Integration; Large; Husker; Net

The lack of network and computing infrastructure in the Midwest have been enlarging the digital and economic gap between urban and rural America. University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is the primary research university in Nebraska (an EPSCoR state) and has a broad range of research activities in various locations across Nebraska, including precision agriculture, autonomous driving, and Internet of things. Existing wireless connectivity solutions, e.g., LoRaWAN, WLAN, and commercial cellular, cannot support diverse research projects in the field, in terms of coverage, throughput, flexibility, cost-efficiency, and performance assurance. This project outlines a novel open end-to-end cellular edge network (Husker-Net) by designing, deploying, and operating private 5G network over a light-licensed CBRS spectrum in multiple UNL campuses. Husker-Net is featured with ultra-low operating cost with open-source modules, flexible deployment with both wired and wireless backhaul (e.g., LEO in mid of Nebraska), and zero-touch management with automatic model-free algorithms. To achieve Husker-Net, this project will 1) design a new convergent RAN-Edge-CN architecture with open-source RAN, Edge, and CN modules, 2) design new cost-efficient RAN and CN virtualization techniques with isolated virtualized resources, and 3) design a new model-free resource allocation algorithm to support co-existed research projects via end-to-end network slicing with assured performances. The derived solutions and real-world operation datasets in Husker-Net will be open sourced to promote the openness of cellular networks and broader access by the research community. Husker-Net will support more than 10 research projects across multiple departments at UNL with the assistance of ITS, and continue exploring more projects along with the Office of Research & Economic Development (ORED). Based on Husker-Net, a campus-wide education experimental platform will be developed for serving a series of undergraduate- and graduate-level courses at UNL. Husker-Net will serve as the exemplary platform for the evaluation and testing of private networks for the Midwest states.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

中西部地区网络和计算基础设施的缺乏一直在扩大美国城乡之间的数字和经济差距。内布拉斯加大学林肯分校 (UNL) 是内布拉斯加州（EPSCoR 州）的主要研究型大学，在内布拉斯加州各地开展广泛的研究活动，包括精准农业、自动驾驶和物联网。现有的无线连接解决方​​案（例如 LoRaWAN、WLAN 和商用蜂窝）在覆盖范围、吞吐量、灵活性、成本效率和性能保证方面无法支持该领域的各种研究项目。该项目通过在 UNL 多个校区的光许可 CBRS 频谱上设计、部署和运营专用 5G 网络，概述了一种新型开放式端到端蜂窝边缘网络 (Husker-Net)。 Husker-Net 具有开源模块超低运营成本、有线和无线回程灵活部署（例如内布拉斯加州中部的 LEO）以及自动无模型算法的零接触管理等特点。为了实现 Husker-Net，该项目将 1) 使用开源 RAN、Edge 和 CN 模块设计新的融合 RAN-Edge-CN 架构，2) 使用隔离的虚拟化资源设计新的经济高效的 RAN 和 CN 虚拟化技术， 3）设计一种新的无模型资源分配算法，通过具有保证性能的端到端网络切片来支持共存的研究项目。 Husker-Net 中的衍生解决方案和实际操作数据集将开源，以促进蜂窝网络的开放性和研究界更广泛的访问。 Husker-Net 将在 ITS 的协助下支持 UNL 多个部门的 10 多个研究项目，并继续与研究与经济发展办公室 (ORED) 一起探索更多项目。基于Husker-Net，将开发全校范围的教育实验平台，服务于UNL一系列本科和研究生水平的课程。 Husker-Net 将成为评估和测试中西部各州专用网络的典范平台。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。