Work

Design and experimental evaluation of a reconfigurable intelligent surface for wireless applications

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) have emerged as a transformative technology for enhancing wireless communication beyond 5 G and 6 G networks by dynamically manipulating signal propagation. This paper presents a novel RIS design featuring a circular dumbbell-shaped structure, simulated at a large scale of 32×32 elements, addressing the critical challenge of path loss in mmWave communication. Unlike conventional designs, our approach optimizes phase reconfiguration to enhance beam steering efficiency with a low-cost and efficient design. To validate our design, we conduct an experimental study on a 16×16 phase reconfigurable RIS prototype operating at 32.8 GHz in indoor environments. Each unit cell integrates an AlGaAs PIN diode, enabling 1-bit phase control with a 180° phase shift, ensuring precise wavefront manipulation. Our experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed RIS in beam steering and path loss mitigation, demonstrating its practical feasibility for real-world deployments. This study provides new insights into RIS scalability, design optimization, and high-frequency performance, paving the way for its integration into next-generation wireless communication systems.

Source: Results in Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104694

Authors: Haider TH.Salim ALRikabi, Adheed H. Sallomi, Hasan F. KHazaal, Ahmed Magdy

Institutions: Mustansiriyah University, University of Wasit, Suez Canal University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Wireless Communication Technologies

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,940