UK’s First 6G Trial: Real-Time 3D Avatar Creation

The Smart Internet Lab in Bristol is making waves in the tech world with its ambitious plan to unveil a cutting-edge 6G holographic capture and display system. This innovative project is part of the lab's broader efforts to develop end-to-end networks for advanced 5G and 6G applications.

Leading the charge is Prof Dimitria Simeonidu, the director of the Smart Internet Lab, who is spearheading the development of a system capable of capturing real-time 3D images of individuals and transmitting them across the network. This groundbreaking demonstration, the first of its kind in the UK, will utilize a sophisticated setup comprising 60 cameras with diverse connectivity options, including cellular 5G, WiFi, and LiFi connections.

The lab's current focus lies in testing a volumetric reader equipped with six cameras that can capture multiple 2D images and seamlessly convert them into 3D representations in real time. This process is made possible through the utilization of an Nvidia graphics processor housed in a local network node. Notably, the lab has already showcased its capabilities by successfully reconstructing a 3D image in San Diego, California, via a transatlantic link.

Prof Simeonidu elaborated on the technical aspects of the project, stating, "We leverage the network infrastructure to stream the captured images, while relying on the local network for rendering purposes. Our upcoming endeavor involves deploying 60 cameras alongside a pop-up node to capture detailed images of individuals and generate lifelike 3D avatars. The data can be processed locally or transmitted via a dedicated fiber connection to San Diego for rendering."

Excitingly, the lab is gearing up to conduct the first 6G trials in the UK next March, utilizing the capabilities of the pop-up node, which can establish connections through 5G Open RAN, fiber optics, or satellite backlinks. This milestone represents a significant leap forward in the realm of telecommunications and sets the stage for a new era of immersive communication and collaboration.