Reconfigurable Intelligent Computational Surfaces: When Wave Propagation Control Meets Computing

TL;DR

This paper introduces reconfigurable intelligent computational surfaces (RICS), combining programmable electromagnetic control with metamaterials-based computing to enable joint communication and computation in future wireless networks.

Contribution

It proposes the novel concept of RICS, integrating reconfigurable beamforming and metamaterials-based computing layers for advanced wireless applications.

Findings

RICS can perform spectrum sensing and signal processing tasks.

Potential to unify communication and computation in 6G networks.

Abstract

The envisioned sixth-generation (6G) of wireless networks will involve an intelligent integration of communications and computing, thereby meeting the urgent demands of diverse applications. To realize the concept of the smart radio environment, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) are a promising technology for offering programmable propagation of impinging electromagnetic signals via external control. However, the purely reflective nature of conventional RISs induces significant challenges in supporting computation-based applications, e.g., wave-based calculation and signal processing. To fulfil future communication and computing requirements, new materials are needed to complement the existing technologies of metasurfaces, enabling further diversification of electronics and their applications. In this event, we introduce the concept of reconfigurable intelligent computational surface (RICS), which is composed of two reconfigurable multifunctional layers: the `reconfigurable beamforming layer' which is responsible for tunable signal reflection, absorption, and refraction, and the `intelligence computation layer' that concentrates on metamaterials-based computing. By exploring the recent trends on computational metamaterials, RICSs have the potential to make joint communication and computation a reality. We further demonstrate two typical applications of RICSs for performing wireless spectrum sensing and secrecy signal processing. Future research challenges arising from the design and operation of RICSs are finally highlighted.