Reconfigurable Antennas for 6G: Technologies, Prototypes, Architectures, and Signal Processing

TL;DR

This paper reviews reconfigurable antenna technologies and their role in enabling adaptable, efficient 6G wireless networks, covering hardware, prototypes, architectures, and signal processing challenges.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of RA advancements, prototypes, and architectures for 6G, highlighting research opportunities and challenges.

Findings

Reconfigurable antennas enable dynamic electromagnetic control for 6G.

Hardware and prototype developments are advancing rapidly.

Key signal processing challenges remain for practical deployment.

Abstract

The transition to sixth-generation (6G) networks calls for wireless transceivers with enhanced adaptability and efficiency. Reconfigurable antennas (RAs) have emerged as a promising solution, enabling dynamic control over the electromagnetic properties of individual antenna elements. This article provides an overview of RA technologies for 6G systems, encompassing hardware advancements, early prototyping studies, novel system architectures, and key signal processing challenges. From the combined perspective of antenna design and communication systems, we highlight the potential of RAs to enable next-generation networks, while also identifying key challenges and promising research opportunities.