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

随着无线容量的不断增长，万物互联（IoE）的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）系统被称为关键的IoE启动器。然而，这仍有待实现。与此同时，扩展现实（XR）、远程医疗、互联自主系统等新的物联网服务正在大规模扩展。这些应用不仅要求在上行链路（UL）和下行链路（DL）上具有高数据速率、高可靠性和低延迟，而且还要求计算功能、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（6GB）无线网络开始发挥作用，以应对新的物联网应用所带来的挑战。为了满足上述新要求，新的无线电接入技术（rat）必须集成到6GB网络中，预计这些网络不仅依赖于传统频谱（即低于6 GHz和毫米波），而且还依赖于尚未开发的新频段，即太赫兹频段和可见光通信（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6GB rat最终将包括一系列新技术和网络架构，这些技术和网络架构最近已经通过物理层的研究进展得以实现，但尚未成为5G的一部分，例如智能反射面（IRS）和无蜂窝的超大规模多输入多输出（CF-UM-MIMO）。

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.