RIS-Parametrized Rich-Scattering Environments: Physics-Compliant Models, Channel Estimation, and Optimization

TL;DR

This paper explores physics-compliant modeling, parameter estimation, and optimization of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces in complex rich-scattering environments, enabling smarter control of wireless channels in indoor and factory settings.

Contribution

It introduces a physics-based modeling framework for RIS-rich scattering environments, addressing parameter estimation and optimization techniques for practical deployment.

Findings

Physics-compliant models effectively represent complex scattering environments.

Parameter estimation methods enable environment-specific calibration.

Optimized RIS configurations improve wireless channel control.

Abstract

The tunability of radio environments with reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) enables the paradigm of smart radio environments in which wireless system engineers are no longer limited to only controlling the radiated signals but can in addition also optimize the wireless channels. Many practical radio environments include complex scattering objects, especially indoor and factory settings. Multipath propagation therein creates seemingly intractable coupling effects between RIS elements, leading to the following questions: How can a RIS-parametrized rich-scattering environment be modelled in a physics-compliant manner? Can the parameters of such a model be estimated for a specific but unknown experimental environment? And how can the RIS configuration be optimized given a calibrated physics-compliant model? This chapter summarizes the current state of the art in this field, highlighting the recently unlocked potential of frugal physical-model-based open-loop control of RIS-parametrized rich-scattering radio environments.