Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) Empowered Future Wireless Networks

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The key drivers of next generation wireless system come from the technology-driven paradigm shift and the continuous evolution of the existing wireless networks, along with bandwidth-hungry and ultra-low latency applications such as immersive virtual reality, connected robotics and autonomous systems. These applications pose new challenges to the requirements of data speed, computing, connectivity, and energy-spectral efficiency. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) is a new wireless communication paradigm and is considered a promising enabler to support such applications. RIS when integrated with key technologies such as massive IoT, enhanced small cells with edge intelligence and computing, data-driven intelligent network control, integrated aerial-terrestrial network, and THz backhauling has huge potential to realize high performance wireless information societal networks. It opens up a plethora of opportunities in wireless system engineering, design and optimization. Existing studies on the RIS technology are still primitive in many areas. We will tackle many challenges in resource allocation, transmission and massive access problems when integrating edge computing, aerial communication and IoT with IRS, using powerful tools from wireless communication, queuing models, optimization, decision theory and machine learning. The proposed research program therefore seeks to focus on the design and development of advanced and practical technologies for RIS-aided wireless communication in tightly coupled heterogeneous networks utilising optimization-based transmission and multiple access techniques, and learning-based data-driven decisions in network control and management. In particular, we will: (i) Develop a computing framework using distributed edge intelligence in dense networks with RIS for low-latency applications; (ii) Design scalable symbiotic radio network to efficiently utilize resources and provide massive access for IoT devices; (iii) Develop ubiquitous high-capacity communication in RIS-integrated aerial-terrestrial networks by exploiting advanced transmission and access technologies, and (iv) Develop proactive schemes for RIS systems to be self-sustaining in energy, and self-organizing in configurations and management. This will improve wireless network capacity and coverage, and provide robust quality of service and reliable connectivity in the next generation wireless systems. Novel theoretical contributions and innovative technologies resulting from the proposed research will have significant impact on the evolution of RIS-aided communication. Invention of new techniques and technologies from this research program will foster vital competitive edge to strategic Canadian ICT industry, and bring significant scientific, economic and social benefits to Canada.