The recent advancements in wireless communication technologies have seen a significant shift towards integrating reconfigurable and intelligent surfaces to enhance network performance and efficiency. Innovations like stacked intelligent metasurfaces (SIM) and reconfigurable holographic surfaces (RHS) are paving the way for direct analog signal processing in the wave domain, reducing the reliance on traditional phased arrays. Additionally, the concept of Internet of Paint (IoP) introduces a novel approach to embedding communication capabilities within everyday materials, transforming walls into high-speed wireless infrastructures. Flexible-antenna systems, such as pinching antennas, are also gaining traction for their ability to reconfigure wireless channels intelligently, offering potential improvements in line-of-sight communication and interference mitigation.
In the realm of network architecture, there is a strong focus on the next generation of mobile networks, particularly 6G, which aims to leverage advancements in distributed processing, artificial intelligence, and secure integration of diverse networks. Innovations in channel access strategies, event-based resilience frameworks, and coordinated multi-armed bandit algorithms are enhancing spatial reuse and network performance in Wi-Fi systems. Additionally, the role of 5G in enabling sustainable urban mobility is being explored, highlighting the importance of seamless connectivity and real-time data processing in smart city infrastructure.
The recent advancements in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) have significantly shifted the focus towards leveraging Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and aerial platforms to enhance global connectivity. A notable trend is the exploration of lightweight and scalable routing protocols in LEO constellations, addressing the challenges posed by high dynamics and resource limitations. These protocols aim to improve network performance through efficient multipath routing and localized traffic control, ensuring better load balancing and response times.
In the field of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems, there has been significant progress in enhancing wireless communication efficiency and performance. The use of RIS in near-field communications has addressed issues like beam split effects and gain loss through innovative beamforming techniques based on Fresnel zones. Additionally, RIS-assisted interference nulling has been proposed to enhance multicast gains in coded caching systems, demonstrating faster convergence and improved degrees of freedom.
Lastly, the advancements in wireless communication and autonomous systems have shown a significant shift towards leveraging millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies and advanced channel modeling techniques. Researchers are increasingly focusing on developing generalized channel models that can accurately represent both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios across various environments, which is crucial for the deployment of next-generation communication systems such as 6G. These models are being refined through extensive measurement campaigns and statistical analysis, aiming to enhance the performance metrics like path gain, delay, and angular distributions.
