Going Beyond a Simple RIS: Trends and Techniques Paving the Path of Future RIS

Abstract

To have uninterrupted wireless connectivity, higher throughput, and latency rate down to nanoseconds; future networks will rely heavily on higher frequency bands, yet these signals suffer from attenuation and can be easily blocked by objects. Hence, those signals lose strength over longer distances significantly compared to their low-frequency counterparts. To overcome these constraints, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) can increase the wireless network capacity and coverage by consciously altering the wireless propagation environment, which makes them one of the key enablers of the 6G communication networks. The potential benefits of RIS-assisted communication systems can be effectively increased using machine learning (ML) to pave the path towards Wireless 2.0, having a vision of digitization, programmability, and intelligence. This paper reviews recent developments in RIS technology with a special emphasis on tuning techniques, hardware concepts, RIS empowered by artificial intelligence techniques, and applications for next generation of networks. Finally, a viewpoint on the difficulties and potential directions of intelligent metasurfaces are also presented.

Next-Generation Antennas Key Enabler: Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) Technology Potential to Address Limitations of Traditional Antennas

“…Shafique and Alhassoun [10] discuss the potential of IRS to create well-separated clusters of users, enabling efficient NOMA implementation and minimizing inter-user interference. This capability can lead to higher spectral efficiencies and increased overall network capacity, particularly in dense user environments.…”

“…Furthermore, IRS technology can enable the development of multi-functional antennas, capable of simultaneously supporting multiple wireless services and applications [10]. By using IRS to create focused beams and manage radio waves efficiently, these antennas could support various communication standards, operate on different frequencies, and handle diverse applications simultaneously [10]. This eliminates the need for separate antennas for different purposes, leading to more efficient, cost-effective, and versatile solutions for complex communication systems and environments.…”