Capacity and coverage analysis for FD-MIMO based THz Band 5G indoor Internet of Things

© 2017 IEEE. Current and proposed Internet of things (IoT) applications are expected to bring about a major technological revolutions. Next-generation wireless communications in such devices are expected to support high speed data transfers. Among different candidate technologies, terahertz (THz) band communication seems to be a promising direction due to availability of high bandwidth in the electromagnetic spectrum around this frequency range and its directional nature governed by the directive antennas. In this paper, we look into some networking scenarios of full-dimension multiple-input multiple-output (FD-MIMO) based THz Band indoor wireless networks to determine the number of nodes that can be connected to a base station as a function of the antenna characteristics. Furthermore, we analyze the performance of the users and network based on their ergodic capacity. Our results suggest fundamental parameters that can be used in future THz Band analysis and implementations

Digital Twin for Metasurface Reflector Management in 6G Terahertz Communications

The performance demands from data-intensive applications, such as multimedia streaming, as well as the growing number of devices connecting to the Internet, will increase the need for higher capacity wireless communication links. The research community has recently explored regions of the spectrum, including the Terahertz band (0.1 THz to 10 THz), that are underutilised for communications. THz frequencies come with a plethora of special challenges, one of which is the very narrow effective beam, thereby requiring a Line of Sight (LoS) between sender and receiver. Researchers have explored the use of reflectors that can redirect beams around blockages. In this paper, we propose a THz signal guidance system where a Digital Twin is used to model, predict and control the signal propagation characteristics of an indoor space. Our approach finds the best THz signal path from the base station to the mobile target via the tunable metamaterial walls, avoiding obstacles as needed, using geometric (ray tracing), path loss and Terahertz Potential Field (THzPF) models. With this knowledge, the digital twin guides the selection of antenna strips at a base station and the reflectors along the signal path. A top-view camera, with advanced image processing, provides context updates (obstacle and mobile target locations) to the digital twin. The image processing system also senses factors like water vapour concentration, and the material composition and surface roughness of obstacles. Such factors affect propagation strength, and the digital twin modifies the beam paths to adapt. Simulation results have shown the efficiency of our control system to maintain a reliable signal connection while minimising the use of antenna and reflector strips. Our system is the first proposal that maximises THz signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) through such a dynamic and robust control system, which integrates image processing of a room with base station configuration

Ultra-Wideband Technology: Characteristcs, Applications and Challenges

Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is a wireless communication technology designed for short-range applications. It is characterized by its ability to generate and transmit radio-frequency energy over an extensive frequency range. This paper provides an overview of UWB technology including its definition, two representative schemes and some key characteristics distinguished from other types of communication. Besides, this paper also analyses some widely used applications of UWB technology and highlights some of the challenges associated with implementing UWB in real-world scenarios. Furthermore, this paper expands upon UWB technology to encompass terahertz technology, providing an overview of the current status of terahertz communication, and conducting an analysis of the advantages, challenges, and certain corresponding solutions pertaining to ultra-wideband THz communication

Terahertz Communications and Sensing for 6G and Beyond: A Comprehensive View

The next-generation wireless technologies, commonly referred to as the sixth generation (6G), are envisioned to support extreme communications capacity and in particular disruption in the network sensing capabilities. The terahertz (THz) band is one potential enabler for those due to the enormous unused frequency bands and the high spatial resolution enabled by both short wavelengths and bandwidths. Different from earlier surveys, this paper presents a comprehensive treatment and technology survey on THz communications and sensing in terms of the advantages, applications, propagation characterization, channel modeling, measurement campaigns, antennas, transceiver devices, beamforming, networking, the integration of communications and sensing, and experimental testbeds. Starting from the motivation and use cases, we survey the development and historical perspective of THz communications and sensing with the anticipated 6G requirements. We explore the radio propagation, channel modeling, and measurements for THz band. The transceiver requirements, architectures, technological challenges, and approaches together with means to compensate for the high propagation losses by appropriate antenna and beamforming solutions. We survey also several system technologies required by or beneficial for THz systems. The synergistic design of sensing and communications is explored with depth. Practical trials, demonstrations, and experiments are also summarized. The paper gives a holistic view of the current state of the art and highlights the issues and challenges that are open for further research towards 6G.Comment: 55 pages, 10 figures, 8 tables, submitted to IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorial

A Prospective Look: Key Enabling Technologies, Applications and Open Research Topics in 6G Networks

The fifth generation (5G) mobile networks are envisaged to enable a plethora of breakthrough advancements in wireless technologies, providing support of a diverse set of services over a single platform. While the deployment of 5G systems is scaling up globally, it is time to look ahead for beyond 5G systems. This is driven by the emerging societal trends, calling for fully automated systems and intelligent services supported by extended reality and haptics communications. To accommodate the stringent requirements of their prospective applications, which are data-driven and defined by extremely low-latency, ultra-reliable, fast and seamless wireless connectivity, research initiatives are currently focusing on a progressive roadmap towards the sixth generation (6G) networks. In this article, we shed light on some of the major enabling technologies for 6G, which are expected to revolutionize the fundamental architectures of cellular networks and provide multiple homogeneous artificial intelligence-empowered services, including distributed communications, control, computing, sensing, and energy, from its core to its end nodes. Particularly, this paper aims to answer several 6G framework related questions: What are the driving forces for the development of 6G? How will the enabling technologies of 6G differ from those in 5G? What kind of applications and interactions will they support which would not be supported by 5G? We address these questions by presenting a profound study of the 6G vision and outlining five of its disruptive technologies, i.e., terahertz communications, programmable metasurfaces, drone-based communications, backscatter communications and tactile internet, as well as their potential applications. Then, by leveraging the state-of-the-art literature surveyed for each technology, we discuss their requirements, key challenges, and open research problems