The evolution of communication technologies, represented by 5G advancement and the forthcoming 6G, is poised not only to broaden the scope of supported vertical industries but also to offer capabilities surpassing mere connectivity. Within this framework, CAM vertical services emerge as a diverse array of functionalities catering to vehicular environments, encompassing both safety-critical operations and ancillary services facilitated by 5G networks.
In response to these challenges, ENVELOPE project aims to:
1. ENVELOPE has advanced and opened up the 5G-Advanced architecture into a vertical-oriented one, tailored to Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) use cases. The architecture exposes network capabilities so that verticals can dynamically request and modify network behaviour.
2. ENVELOPE has addressed key weak points of the 5G System by streamlining the configuration of the network and end-devices for verticals — replacing what was previously a time-consuming, manual process with automated, on-demand mechanisms.
3. ENVELOPE has implemented and tested functionalities for verticals such as CAM and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including location services, edge computing, network slicing and quality-on-demand, now validated across the trial sites.
4. ENVELOPE has developed a modular architecture that supports any vertical in a vertical-agnostic manner while still addressing specific vertical requirements. It gives the vertical side better visibility of the network and communication state and enables advanced Application Function (AF) influence over network configuration.
5. The large-scale trial deployments in Italy, the Netherlands and Greece are operational and running, enhanced and supported with functionalities tailored to CAM services and advanced network-exposure capabilities.
