Advances in Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces and Near-Field Communication

The recent developments in the field of wireless communication have shown a significant shift towards leveraging reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) and innovative near-field communication techniques. RISs are emerging as a transformative technology, enabling dynamic control over electromagnetic wave propagation, which is crucial for enhancing network capacity, improving localization accuracy, and optimizing energy efficiency in various communication scenarios.

One of the key innovations is the integration of RISs with other technologies, such as light-emitting RISs (LeRIS) for programmable wireless environments and RIS-aided wireless-powered backscatter communications for sustainable underground sensor networks. These advancements not only address the challenges of traditional systems but also open new possibilities for real-time, adaptive, and energy-efficient communication solutions.

In the realm of near-field communication, the focus has been on simplifying architectures to reduce complexity and pilot overhead. Analog-only beamforming (AoBF) for near-field multiuser MIMO communications is a notable example, offering a balance between performance and energy efficiency. Additionally, the study of spatial bandwidth in large-scale antenna arrays has provided insights into optimizing channel capacity and degrees of freedom in massive MIMO systems.

The field is also witnessing innovative array architectures, such as the extremely large-scale uniform arc array (XL-UAA), which promises superior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) performance compared to conventional linear arrays. These developments underscore the potential for significant improvements in communication quality and spectral efficiency.

Noteworthy Papers:

• The introduction of passive six-dimensional movable antenna (6DMA) systems demonstrates a novel approach to maximizing multiuser sum rates through joint optimization of positions, rotations, and reflection coefficients.
• The proposal of a vision-aided label generator for Wi-Fi localization and tracking (LoFi) addresses the challenge of limited datasets, offering a scalable solution for data-driven methods.
• The study of X-shaped RIS (X-RIS) highlights the versatility and potential applications of this innovative surface design.
• The integration of RIS with wireless-powered backscatter communications for underground sensor networks showcases a practical framework for sustainable IoT applications.