MINTS has researched how to enhance communication reliability using digital beamforming, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), dual beam antennas, and detailed channel analysis. The major achievements include 1) a new way to embed long-range wireless control information for passive reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, 2) analysis of mmWave interaction with large building facades through a dedicated measurement campaign and ray tracing, 3) demonstration of the practical influence of a prototype RIS on the mmWave channel at the multipath component level, 4) completion of dual-beam antenna prototype and mmWave testbed, and 5) Machine learning-based beamforming strategies for mmW systems.
MINTS has exploited mmWave signals for environmental sensing. Key achievements include designing radio location mechanisms and algorithms to facilitate distributed sensing applications using mmWave radar networks, developing a neural network model for localizing mmWave radio terminals, and conducting experimental validations on real hardware in laboratory settings.
MINTS has also produced significant contributions addressing ultra-dense deployments, improved communication resiliency, and enhanced security in mmWave networks. The ns-3 IEEE 802.11ay module has been developed. Algorithms for user assignment in cell-free networks were created, and human blockage with guard beams was addressed. A RIS prototype was built and tested, demonstrating improved urban wireless coverage. Channel models and frameworks for resilient mmWave and THz communications were developed. BeamSec, a security scheme to minimize information leakage in mmWave systems, was designed.
Besides, MITNS has exploited how to apply innovative mmWave technology in industry 4.0 vehicular, and AR/XR applications. The main achievements are: leveraged beam tracking to enhance mmWave link reliability; characterized industrial mmWave channels and proposed new beamforming architectures; researched the impact of faulty elements in RIS and proposed optimization solutions; addressed wireless mmWave XR HMDs, conducted measurements, and proposed dynamic beamforming solutions.
Regarding Exploitation and Dissemination, MINTS has successfully disseminated its findings through various channels: 42 papers have been published at conferences in the research field, such as ICC, Globecom, CoNEXT, MobiSys, WoWMoM, SECON, etc.; ten additional journal papers have been published by IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, IEEE Transaction on Communications, among others; more than ten papers are currently under submission. Besides, nine patents have been filed to further exploit the research outcomes of MINTS, covering innovations in RIS and mmWave communication systems. The researchers in MINTS have organized or been engaged in extensive outreach activities, including a summer school, Science is Wonderful. The Galileo XR, an exciting introduction to the scientific method for children of various ages, even made it to the top 3 out of 100 proposals for the “Science is Wonderful!” competition! A follow-up project 6thSense, researching joint communication and sensing for 6G, has been funded through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks.
