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Digital Twin (DT) technology is expected to play a pivotal role in NextG wireless systems. However, a key challenge remains in the evaluation of data-driven algorithms within DTs, particularly the transfer of learning from simulations to real-world environments. In this work, we investigate the sim-to-real gap in developing a digital twin for the NSF PAWR Platform, POWDER. We first develop a 3D model of the University of Utah campus, incorporating geographical measurements and all rooftop POWDER nodes. We then assess the accuracy of various path loss models used in training modeling and control policies, examining the impact of each model on sim-to-real link performance predictions. Finally, we discuss the lessons learned from model selection and simulation design, offering guidance for the implementation of DT-enabled wireless networks.

In this work, we present a new federation framework for UnionLabs, an innovative cloud-based resource-sharing infrastructure designed for next-generation (NextG) and Internet of Things (IoT) over-the-air (OTA) experiments. The framework aims to reduce the federation complexity for testbeds developers by automating tedious backend operations, thereby providing scalable federation and remote access to various wireless testbeds. We first describe the key components of the new federation framework, including the Systems Manager Integration Engine (SMIE), the Automated Script Generator (ASG), and the Database Context Manager (DCM). We then prototype and deploy the new Federation Plane on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) public cloud, demonstrating its effectiveness by federating two wireless testbeds: i) UB NeXT, a 5G-and-beyond (5G+) testbed at the University at Buffalo, and ii) UT IoT, an IoT testbed at the University of Utah. Through this work we aim to initiate a grassroots campaign to democratize access to wireless research testbeds with heterogeneous hardware resources and network environment, and accelerate the establishment of a mature, open experimental ecosystem for the wireless community. The API of the new Federation Plane will be released to the community after internal testing is completed.

In existing wireless networks, the control programs have been designed manually and for certain predefined scenarios. This process is complicated and error-prone, and the resulting control programs are not resilient to disruptive changes. Data-driven control based on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) has been envisioned as a key technique to automate the modeling, optimization and control of complex wireless systems. However, existing AI/ML techniques rely on sufficient well-labeled data and may suffer from slow convergence and poor generalizability. In this article, focusing on digital twin-assisted wireless unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, we provide a survey of emerging techniques that can enable fast-converging data-driven control of wireless systems with enhanced generalization capability to new environments. These include SLAM-based sensing and network softwarization for digital twin construction, robust reinforcement learning and system identification for domain adaptation, and testing facility sharing and federation. The corresponding research opportunities are also discussed.