CAREER: Scalable and Ubiquitous Millimeter-Wave Wireless Networks

计算机技术的进步使远程外科手术、在线教育、机器人自动化和数字孪生等新兴应用成为可能，这些应用需要高数据速率、低延迟和可靠的无线连接。现代无线网络（如5G和6G）已经承诺实现这种连接。然而，这些网络面临着两个主要问题，这阻碍了它们变得可扩展和无处不在。首先，它们的覆盖范围有限。具体来说，为了实现高数据速率连接，这些网络使用非常高频的信号进行通信。不幸的是，这些信号经历了高路径损耗，也很容易被障碍物、人体或墙壁阻挡。因此，这些网络不能在偏远地区或有静态或移动障碍的环境中提供可靠的高数据速率链路。其次，他们的无线电比低频无线电（如WiFi）消耗更高的功率。因此，能源有限的设备（如使用小电池的传感器）无法从这些网络中受益。该项目解决了上述问题，实现了无论何时何地需要的高数据速率、低延迟和可靠的无线连接。此外，开发新的无线技术对于使美国成为5G/6G及其应用的领导者具有重要的战略意义。拟议的研究是跨学科的，将对教育、智能环境、卫生、农业和应急响应等社会的不同方面产生重大影响。该项目的目标是使毫米波（mmWave）网络可扩展且无处不在。为了实现这一目标，它开发了新型中继器和表面，可以扩展毫米波网络的覆盖范围和可靠性。该设计成本低，功耗低，同时支持多用户和移动性。该项目还开发了一种新方案，使能量受限的设备能够从毫米波网络中获取能量，并利用它为毫米波无线电供电。这项研究采取了整体的观点，并在无线堆栈的所有层进行了创新。为此，研究人员将设计和制造新型天线和硬件，使无源波束形成和转向成为可能，使低功耗链路建立成为可能的新算法，以及使端到端系统成为可能的网络协议。最后，将系统集成到智能家居应用中，展示其优越的功能。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Advancement in computing has enabled emerging applications such as telesurgery, online education, robot automation, and digital twins which require high-data-rate, low-latency, and reliable wireless connectivity. Modern wireless networks (such as 5G and 6G) have promised to enable such connectivity. However, these networks have faced two major problems which prevent them from becoming scalable and ubiquitous. First, they have limited coverage. Specifically, to enable high data-rate connectivity, these networks use very high-frequency signals for communications. Unfortunately, these signals experience high path-loss, and also get easily blocked by obstacles, the human body, or walls. Therefore, these networks do not provide reliable high-data-rate links in remote areas, or environments with static or mobile obstacles. Second, their radios consume higher power than lower frequency radios (e.g. WiFi). Hence, devices with limited energy sources (such as sensors with small batteries) cannot benefit from these networks. This project tackles the above problems, enabling high data-rate, low-latency, and reliable wireless connectivity wherever and whenever is needed. Moreover, developing new wireless technology is strategically important for setting the US as the leader in 5G/6G and its applications. The proposed research is interdisciplinary in nature and will have a significant impact on different aspects of the society such as education, smart environment, health, agriculture, and emergency response.The goal of this project is to make millimeter Wave (mmWave) networks scalable and ubiquitous. To achieve this, it develops novel repeaters and surfaces which can extend coverage and reliability of mmWave networks. The design is low-cost and low-power while supporting multiple users and mobility. The project also develops a new scheme enabling energy-constrained devices to harvest energy from mmWave networks, and use it to power up their mmWave radios. The research takes a holistic view, and innovates across all layers of the wireless stack. To this end, the researchers will design and build novel antennas and hardware that enables passive beamforming and steering, novel algorithms that enable low-power link establishment, and networking protocols which enable end-to-end systems. Finally, the system will be integrated into the Smart Home application, to demonstrate its superior capabilities.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.