Basar, E., Alexandropoulos, G. C., Liu, Y., Wu, Q., Jin, S., Yuen, C., Dobre, O. A., & Schober, R. (2024). Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces for 6G: Emerging Hardware Architectures, Applications, and Open Challenges. IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, 19(3), 27–47. https://doi.org/10.1109/mvt.2024.3415570
Abstract:
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) are rapidly
gaining prominence in the realm of 5G-advanced
and predominantly 6G mobile networks, offering a
revolutionary approach to optimizing wireless
communications. This article delves into the intricate
world of the RIS technology, exploring its diverse hardware
architectures and the resulting versatile operating
modes. These include RISs with signal reception and processing
units, sensors, amplification units, transmissive
capability, multiple stacked components, and dynamic metasurface antennas (DMAs). Furthermore, we shed
light on emerging RIS applications, such as index and
reflection modulation, noncoherent modulation, next-generation
multiple access (NGMA), integrated sensing and
communications (ISAC), energy harvesting (EH), as well
as aerial and vehicular networks. These exciting applications
are set to transform the way we will wirelessly connect
in the upcoming era of 6G. Finally, we review recent
experimental RIS setups and present various open problems
of the overviewed RIS hardware architectures and
their applications. From enhancing network coverage to
enabling new communication paradigms, RIS-empowered
connectivity is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the
future of wireless networking. This article unveils the
underlying principles and potential impacts of RISs,
focusing on cutting-edge developments of this physicallayer
smart connectivity technology.
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Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye - NA
Grant Reference no. : 120E401
This research / project is supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program - Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking projects TERRAMETA, 6G-DISAC
Grant Reference no. : 101097101, 101139130
This research / project is supported by the CHIST-ERA - NA
Grant Reference no. : SUNRISE CHIST-ERA-20- SICT-005
This research / project is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) - EP/W035588/1
Grant Reference no. : NA
This research / project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) - Xiaomi Young Scholar Program
Grant Reference no. : 62371289, NSFC 62331022
This research / project is supported by the Jiangsu Province Frontier Leading Technology Basic Research Project - NA
Grant Reference no. : BK20212002
This research / project is supported by the Ministry of Education Singapore - Academic Research Fund Tier 2
Grant Reference no. : Award MOE-T2EP50220-0019
This research / project is supported by the A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Singapore - Manufacturing, Trade, and Connectivity Programmatic Fund
Grant Reference no. : M22L1b0110
This research / project is supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program - Project CRC-2022-00187
Grant Reference no. : NA
This research / project is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany - Souveran. Digital. Vernetzt
Grant Reference no. : NA
This research / project is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) - joint project 6G-RIC (project identification number 16KISK023)
Grant Reference no. : SCHO 831/15-1