Mechatronic Reconfigurable Intelligent-Surface-Driven Indoor Fifth-Generation Wireless Communication

Abstract

Reconfigurable intelligent surface-assisted wireless networks have been proposed to overcome the current technical issues in fifth-generation (5G) wireless communication systems. Generally, the beam control functions of a reconfigurable intelligent surface require the independent phase control of the unit cells, and each unit cell requires an active device. Although reconfigurable intelligent surfaces are considered a promising solution for 5G and sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication, their practical implementation faces a bottleneck at high frequencies (e.g., with the millimetre-wave spectrum) because they require a large number of active devices, leading to high costs, parasitic effects, increased design complexity, and modulated signal distortion. Herein, a mechatronic reconfigurable intelligent surface is reported for indoor millimetre-wave wireless communication. Our mechatronic device strengthens the innovative reflective beam control functions through rotatable unit structures and rack gear systems. Furthermore, the criteria required for future 5 G wireless communication are experimentally verified by transmitting and receiving quadrature phase-shift keying 16-/32-/64-quadrature amplitude modulation signals based on 5 G new radio (NR) frequency range two standards for indoor environments.