Open Access

Victor Gerling, Michael Seufert, Jörg Hähner

• Current implementations of the 6TiSCH stack, such as in the operating system Contiki-NG, mainly focus on best effort traffic. Deterministic flows, in contrast, require strict guarantees in terms of latency, reliability, and robustness. While these requirements are not yet fully addressed in practice, RFC 9030 already specifies functions that extend 6TiSCH with deterministic capabilities, laying the foundation for further enhancements. This paper outlines a research roadmap to advance 6TiSCH towards DetNet. We first highlight the role of cross-layer optimization across routing, scheduling, and channel assignment to balance conflicting objectives such as latency, energy, and reliability. Next, we discuss modeling approaches for reliability and robustness, including mechanisms such as retransmissions, replications, and falsification-based stress testing. Finally, we address real-world validation through hardware experiments and propose extensions to Contiki-NG, focusing on buffer designCurrent implementations of the 6TiSCH stack, such as in the operating system Contiki-NG, mainly focus on best effort traffic. Deterministic flows, in contrast, require strict guarantees in terms of latency, reliability, and robustness. While these requirements are not yet fully addressed in practice, RFC 9030 already specifies functions that extend 6TiSCH with deterministic capabilities, laying the foundation for further enhancements. This paper outlines a research roadmap to advance 6TiSCH towards DetNet. We first highlight the role of cross-layer optimization across routing, scheduling, and channel assignment to balance conflicting objectives such as latency, energy, and reliability. Next, we discuss modeling approaches for reliability and robustness, including mechanisms such as retransmissions, replications, and falsification-based stress testing. Finally, we address real-world validation through hardware experiments and propose extensions to Contiki-NG, focusing on buffer design improvements and enhanced routing through Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS).…