XR-RF Imaging Enabled by Software-Defined Metasurfaces and Machine Learning: Foundational Vision, Technologies and Challenges

We present a new approach to Extended Reality (XR), denoted as iCOPYWAVES, which seeks to offer naturally low-latency operation and cost-effectiveness, overcoming the critical scalability issues faced by existing solutions. iCOPYWAVES is enabled by emerging PWEs, a recently proposed technology in wireless communications. Empowered by intelligent (meta)surfaces, PWEs transform the wave propagation phenomenon into a software-defined process. We leverage PWEs to i) create, and then ii) selectively copy the scattered RF wavefront of an object from one location in space to another, where a machine learning module, accelerated by FPGAs, translates it to visual input for an XR headset using PWEdriven, RF imaging principles (XR-RF). This makes for an XR system whose operation is bounded in the physical layer and, hence, has the prospects for minimal end-to-end latency. Over large distances, RF-to-fiber/fiber-to-RF is employed to provide intermediate connectivity. The paper provides a tutorial on the iCOPYWAVES system architecture and workflow. A proof-of-concept implementation via simulations is provided, demonstrating the reconstruction of challenging objects in iCOPYWAVES produced computer graphics

Communication recovery with emergency aerial networks

In spite of the significant advancements in wireless connectivity, the static form of the network infrastructure cannot guarantee an uninterrupted operation of the ever-growing wireless consumer electronics in emergency situations such as natural disasters. In such occasions, employing flexible aerial nodes can tackle this issue by recovering the communication rapidly, when the need for connectivity is of utmost importance. In this paper, we study the use of aerial nodes for communication recovery after a communication breakdown. We provide an analytical model of the recovery probability that demonstrates the capabilities of such networks. In the performance evaluation, we show the effects of the altitude and the distance between the aerial nodes on the recovery probability and verify them with simulations. Moreover, we introduce our testbed and preliminary experimental work that shows promising results for aerial networks. Finally, we discuss useful insights for the network design and present some open issues that exist in this field. © 2017 IEEE

WSN4QoL: A WSN-Oriented Healthcare System Architecture

International audiencePeople worldwide are getting older and this fact has pushed the need for designing new, more pervasive, and possibly cost effective healthcare systems. In this field, distributed and networked embedded systems, such as wireless sensor networks (WSNs), are the most appealing technology to achieve continuous monitoring of aged people for their own safety, without affecting their daily activities. This paper proposes recent advancements in this field by introducing WSN4QoL, a Marie Curie project which involves academic and industrial partners from three EU countries. The project aims to propose new WSN-based technologies to meet the specific requirements of pervasive healthcare applications. In particular, in this paper, the system architecture is presented to cope with the challenges imposed by the specific application scenario. This includes a network coding (NC) mechanism and a distributed localization solution that have been implemented on WSN testbeds to achieve efficiency in the communications and to enable indoor people tracking. Preliminary results in a real environment show good system performance that meet our expectations

An Energy Efficient Protocol Architecture for m–Health Systems

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WSN4QoL: WSNs for remote patient monitoring in e-Health applications

International audienceContemporary technologies as implemented in the field of healthcare have provided the everyday clinical practice with a plethora of tools to be used in various settings. In this field, distributed and networked embedded systems, such as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), are the most promising technology to achieve continuous monitoring of aged people for their own safety, without affecting their daily activities. WSN4QoL is a Marie Curie project involving academic and industrial partners from three EU countries, which aims to show how new WSNs-based technologies suit the specific requirements of pervasive healthcare applications. In particular, in this paper, the WSN4QoL's system architecture is presented as designed to exploit the Network Coding (NC) mechanisms to achieve energy efficiency in the wireless communications and distributed positioning solutions to locate patients in indoor home environments. The system has been validated through experimental activities using commercial off the shelf (COTS) WSN testbeds and medical devices prototypes offered by a commercial partner. Results demonstrate that NC helps in achieving substantial gains in terms of energy efficiency as compared to traditional relay mechanisms, while the proposed positioning solution is able to locate people in indoor environments at a sub-room accuracy level, without requiring any extra dedicated hardware