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StatusOngoing
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Status date2025-06-11
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Activity Code3A.128
The V2LeoSim project is targeting the study and implementation of a Software simulator of 5G Vehicular to Everything (V2X) vertical application scenarios, which include the alternative use of terrestrial (Terrestrial Network – TN) and satellite (Non-Terrestrial Network – NTN) connectivity, and innovative Handover networking techniques that improve performance compared to Rel-17 and Rel-18. The activities cover the following macro-objectives:
- 1. Definition of the scenarios of interest and handover techniques.
- 2. Technical specification of the simulator, definition of the related system requirements and software architecture.
- 3. Planning of the development and verification activities of the simulator.
- 4. Realisation and verification of the simulator, with collection and analysis of the data obtained. 5. Carry out a dissemination activity aimed at promoting the results that will be achieved.
The design, implementation and validation of the software-based V2X LEO Simulator require an accurate end-to-end modelling of complex aspects related to the whole V2X protocol stack in the relevant scenarios. It is necessary to include LEO constellations subsystems for combined terrestrial-satellite use-cases, including modelling the mobility of nodes both on ground and in space (LEO constellations) and selected vehicular applications. Several configurations and associated trade-off testing covering a large set of variables are required to identify the target technological solutions and to disseminate the key outcomes to the Vehicular community.
The project aims at drawing recommendations for the vehicular community in the frame of future 3GPP/5G V2X service deployment and development via satellite, on the basis of the new Software simulation tool designed and implemented during the project. The tool can let the team and ESA assessing and presenting V2X service benefits and performance evaluations, considering direct access to 3GPP LEO platforms, in relevant scenarios and considering in particular different handover models.
The simulator will allow experimenters to evaluate the most important 5G and beyond 5G satellite-based V2X scenarios and applications, focusing on the metrics of effectiveness and continuity of communication, creating realistic 5G mobility and communication models, considering different combinations of satellite orbits, frequencies, classes of terminals (UE).
The software simulator is based on open source solutions, which are integrated to offer a tool including all aspects of interest, from the scenario modelling on ground, to the definition of the LEO constellations and NTN-NR communication models, the applications, etc.. NS-3 is selected as the baseline framework that is extended according to the system requirements defined, and it is enhanced with graphical visualization capabilities to present the results also to non-experts. In figure, the preliminary architecture proposed.
The project is planned over a duration of 22 months. The following principal milestones are foreseen, with interim checkpoints defined in agreement with ESA:
- Kick Off: T0 · Preliminary Design Review (PDR): T0+9
- Critical Design Review (CDR): T0+12 · Factory Acceptance Review (FAR): T0+18
- Final Review and Final presentation (PF/FR): T0 + 22
Project was kicked off in April 2025 and it is currently in progress.
