Dynamic Programmable Wireless Environment with UAV-mounted Static Metasurfaces

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel approach to creating programmable wireless environments by using UAV-mounted static metasurfaces that are energy-efficient, dynamically deployable, and enhance wireless communication and security.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of UAV-mounted passive metasurfaces for dynamic wireless environment programming, reducing energy consumption compared to traditional RISs.

Findings

Improved wireless coverage and security through UAV deployment

Passive metasurfaces require no power, enabling energy-efficient operation

Enhanced signal manipulation with dynamic placement of metasurfaces

Abstract

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) are artificial planar structures able to offer a unique way of manipulating propagated wireless signals. Commonly composed of a number of reconfigurable passive cell components and basic electronic circuits, RISs can almost freely perform a set of wave modification functionalities, in order to realize programmable wireless environments (PWEs). However, a more energy-efficient way to realize a PWE is through dynamically relocating static metasurfaces that perform a unique functionality. In this paper, we employ a UAV swarm to dynamically deploy a set of lowcost passive metasurfaces that are able to perform only one electromagnetic functionality, but with the benefit of requiring no power. Specifically, the UAV-mounted static metasurfaces are carefully positioned across the sky to create cascaded channels for improved user service and security hardening. The performance evaluation results, based on