Paradigm-Shifting Radio Access Technologies for 6G-and-Beyond Wireless Networks and the Internet of Everything Applications

随着无线容量的持续增长，万物互联(IoE)的曙光到来，需要从增强型移动宽带(EMBB)到超可靠和低延迟通信(URLLC)服务的革命性范式转变。第五代(5G)新无线电(5G NR)系统被誉为关键的万物互联发射器。然而，这一点仍有待实现。与此同时，扩展现实(XR)、远程医疗、互联自主系统等新的万物互联服务正在大规模扩张。这些应用不仅需要上行链路(UL)和下行链路(DL)上的高数据速率、可靠性和低延迟，而且还需要计算功能、通信和控制的端到端协同设计。为了满足这些严格的要求，第六代(6G)及以上(6 Gb)无线网络开始发挥作用，以应对新的万物互联应用带来的挑战。为了满足上述新的要求，新的无线电接入技术(RAT)必须集成到6 Gb网络中，这些网络预计不仅依赖于传统频谱(即低于6 GHz和MW)，而且还依赖于尚未特许的新频段，即THz频段和可见光通信(VLC)，它们有望满足提供大规模通信的完全连接和智能数字世界的需求。除了新的频谱，未来的6 Gb RAT最终将包括一组新技术和网络架构，这些技术和网络架构最近已通过物理层的研究进展实现，但尚未成为5G的一部分，例如智能反射面(IRS)和无小区超大规模多输入多输出(CF-UM-MIMO)。 这项提议的目标是在多个方面产生创新的解决方案，包括收发器设计、新的中继解决方案和网络架构，以跟上未来6 GB的严格要求。这包括用于UM-MIMO THz收发机的新的信道参数估计技术和新的稳健的分布式协作波束形成(RDCB)设计。此外，我们计划在IRS辅助的通信链路上研究新的同步和信道估计技术以及RDCB设计。另一方面，我们计划为未来的6 Gb网络开发创新的CF-UM-MIMO架构。 在该计划的保护伞下，依靠其适时的范围和申请人的记录，预计将通过潜在的专利申请、在战略产品和业务开发选择方面的帮助以及标准化工作来进行重大技术转让。该计划预计将为加拿大带来巨大的科学、经济和社会效益：i)提高关键技术领域的专业知识，使6 Gb网络和万物互联应用成为可能；ii)促进21世纪数字经济中下一次无线网络革命的到来；iii)协助向加拿大工业转让技术；以及iv)在充满活力的ICT行业提供高质量的HQP培训。

The dawn of the Internet of Everything (IoE), with the continuous growth of wireless capacity, requires revolutionary paradigm shifts from enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) to ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) services. Fifth generation (5G) new radio (5G NR) system was branded as a key IoE launcher. Nevertheless, this remains to be realized. In the meantime, new IoE services such as eXtended reality (XR), telemedicine, connected autonomous systems, etc., are in massive expansion. These applications not only require high data rates, reliability, and low latency both on uplink (UL) and downlink (DL), but also an end-to-end co-design of computing functionalities, communication, and control. To meet these stringent requirements, sixth generation (6G) and beyond (6GB) wireless networks come to play to answer the challenges arising with the new IoE applications. To meet the new requirements outlined above, new radio access technologies (RATs) must be integrated into 6GB networks that are expected to rely not only on conventional spectrum (i.e., sub-6 GHz and mmW), but also on new frequency bands unchartered yet, namely the THz band and visible light communications (VLC) which promise to meet the demands for a fully connected and intelligent digital world offering massive-scale communications. Besides the new spectrum, future 6GB RATs will include eventually a set of new technologies and network architectures that have been recently enabled by research advancements in the PHY layer but are not yet part of 5G such as intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) and cell-free ultra-massive multiple input multiple output (CF-UM-MIMO). The objective of this proposal is to produce innovative solutions at multiple fronts including transceiver designs, new relaying solutions, and network architecture to keep up with future 6GB stringent requirements. This includes new channel parameter estimation techniques and novel robust distributed collaborative beamforming (RDCB) designs for UM-MIMO THz transceivers. Besides, we plan to investigate new synchronization and channel estimation techniques and RDCB designs over IRS-aided communication links. On another front, we plan develop innovative CF-UM-MIMO architectures for future 6GB networks. Under the umbrella of this program and relying on its timely scope and on the applicant's record, major technological transfers are expected through potential patent applications, assistance in strategic product & business development choices, and standardization effort. Tremendous scientific, economic, and social benefits for Canada are expected from this program by: i) advancing know-how in crucial technical areas that enable 6GB networks & IoE apps, ii) facilitating the advent of the next wireless networks revolution in the 21st-century digital economy, iii) assisting technology transfers to Canadian industry, and iv) providing top-quality HQP training in a vibrant ICT sector.