22nd AIAI 2026, 16 - 19 July 2026, Chania, Crete, Greece

Network Slicing-Enabled Architecture for Autonomous Inventory Verification in Smart Warehouses

Lessi Christina, Mygdakos Gregory, Stamatelatos Makis, Chochliouros Ioannis

Abstract:

  The transformation of warehouse operations through automation introduces new requirements for communication networks, particularly in terms of laten-cy, reliability, and scalability. Autonomous robotic systems performing real-time tasks, such as inventory verification, depend on continuous and efficient data exchange with centralized platforms. Beyond 5G (B5G) networks provide the necessary technological framework to support such applications, enabling flexible and service-oriented architectures. Among their key features, network slicing allows the deployment of multiple logical networks over a shared infra-structure, each tailored to specific service requirements. This paper presents a B5G-enabled architecture designed for autonomous inventory verification in warehouse environments, with a primary focus on network slicing. A detailed use case is introduced, where mobile robots perform real-time validation of load positions by interacting with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). The proposed slicing framework ensures service differentiation, efficient re-source utilization, and high system reliability.  

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