Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces and Movable Antennas: Toward Enhanced Connectivity in 6G Wireless Networks

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces and Movable Antennas: Toward Enhanced Connectivity in 6G Wireless Networks Abstract: Next-generation wireless networks are expected to provide seamless connectivity, high spectral efficiency, and reliable communication in increasingly complex and dynamic environments. However, conventional wireless systems face significant challenges arising from signal blockage and limited coverage. Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have emerged as promising technologies to address these challenges by introducing new degrees of freedom for controlling wireless signal propagation. By deploying programmable RISs in wireless environments (walls, windows, and other objects) and jointly optimizing their phase shifts, wireless networks can intelligently control signal propagation and enhance coverage, connectivity, and communication reliability. In this seminar, we will explore how RISs can be leveraged to enhance wireless connectivity and communication performance. We will first discuss RIS-assisted wireless networks, focusing on intelligent reflection to improve network performance. We will then investigate the integration of RISs with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), highlighting how joint optimization of RIS configurations, communication links, and UAV deployment can improve connectivity in wireless environments. Looking ahead, we will briefly explore movable antenna (MA)-enabled wireless systems, where antenna positions can be dynamically adjusted to exploit spatial variations in wireless channels. Together, these advancements pave the way for intelligent and adaptive wireless environments that dynamically optimize signal propagation, antenna positioning, and network connectivity, advancing the vision of reliable and efficient 6G wireless networks.