Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS)
6G communication systems promise to deliver very high data rates (Tbit/s) using mm-wave and THz frequency bands thanks to these bands’ high available bandwidth. However, one of the major disadvantages of shifting to high-frequency communication is the blockage by obstacles (so-called shadowing effects). Unlike low frequencies, high-frequency electromagnetic waves have low diffraction energy that cannot reach behind obstacles of certain sizes and materials. This hinders the communication link between the transmitter and the receiver. The Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) plays in this case an essential role in enabling a dynamic virtual line of sight between the sender and the receiver due to its ability to change its reflecting properties.
Project 6GEM
In the 6GEM project, the focus is to develop new design, measurement techniques, and characterization methods of RIS at 28 GHz.
RIS design
At IHF, research is being conducted on designing, producing, and characterizing RIS at 28 GHz using varactor diodes as tuning elements. An analytical framework for RIS synthesis and configuration is already established. The effectiveness of RIS in case of non-line of sight link between transmitter and receiver has already been verified at Sub-6 GHz.