Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments

Abstract The programmable metasurface or reconfigurable intelligent surface is one of the emerging technologies for next-generation wireless communications, but the existing programmable metasurfaces still rely on human control to reshape the electromagnetic (EM) environment as desired. Here, we pro...

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Main Authors: Han Qing Yang, Jun Yan Dai, Hui Dong Li, Lijie Wu, Zi Hang Shen, Qun Yan Zhou, Meng Zhen Zhang, Si Ran Wang, Zheng Xing Wang, Jun Wei Wu, Shi Jin, Wankai Tang, Qiang Cheng, Tie Jun Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61409-6
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author Han Qing Yang
Jun Yan Dai
Hui Dong Li
Lijie Wu
Zi Hang Shen
Qun Yan Zhou
Meng Zhen Zhang
Si Ran Wang
Zheng Xing Wang
Jun Wei Wu
Shi Jin
Wankai Tang
Qiang Cheng
Tie Jun Cui
author_facet Han Qing Yang
Jun Yan Dai
Hui Dong Li
Lijie Wu
Zi Hang Shen
Qun Yan Zhou
Meng Zhen Zhang
Si Ran Wang
Zheng Xing Wang
Jun Wei Wu
Shi Jin
Wankai Tang
Qiang Cheng
Tie Jun Cui
author_sort Han Qing Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The programmable metasurface or reconfigurable intelligent surface is one of the emerging technologies for next-generation wireless communications, but the existing programmable metasurfaces still rely on human control to reshape the electromagnetic (EM) environment as desired. Here, we propose an adaptively programmable metasurface (APM), which integrates the capabilities of acquiring wireless environment information and manipulating the EM waves in programmable manners. APM can sense the complex EM field distributions around and dynamically manipulate the EM waves and signals in real time under the guidance of the sensed information, eliminating the need for prior knowledge or external input on the wireless environment. For experimental verification, a 6 × 6 APM prototype is constructed and its dual capabilities of sensing and wave manipulation are validated. Different integrated sensing and communication scenarios with and without the aid of APM are established, and the capability of APM in enhancing the communication quality is demonstrated in complex environments, highlighting its beneficial application potentials in future wireless systems.
format Article
id doaj-art-e89b311854f740d8ade8853fa20bb264
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-e89b311854f740d8ade8853fa20bb2642025-08-20T03:45:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-61409-6Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environmentsHan Qing Yang0Jun Yan Dai1Hui Dong Li2Lijie Wu3Zi Hang Shen4Qun Yan Zhou5Meng Zhen Zhang6Si Ran Wang7Zheng Xing Wang8Jun Wei Wu9Shi Jin10Wankai Tang11Qiang Cheng12Tie Jun Cui13Institute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityNational Mobile Communications Research Laboratory, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityNational Mobile Communications Research Laboratory, Southeast UniversityNational Mobile Communications Research Laboratory, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityInstitute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast UniversityAbstract The programmable metasurface or reconfigurable intelligent surface is one of the emerging technologies for next-generation wireless communications, but the existing programmable metasurfaces still rely on human control to reshape the electromagnetic (EM) environment as desired. Here, we propose an adaptively programmable metasurface (APM), which integrates the capabilities of acquiring wireless environment information and manipulating the EM waves in programmable manners. APM can sense the complex EM field distributions around and dynamically manipulate the EM waves and signals in real time under the guidance of the sensed information, eliminating the need for prior knowledge or external input on the wireless environment. For experimental verification, a 6 × 6 APM prototype is constructed and its dual capabilities of sensing and wave manipulation are validated. Different integrated sensing and communication scenarios with and without the aid of APM are established, and the capability of APM in enhancing the communication quality is demonstrated in complex environments, highlighting its beneficial application potentials in future wireless systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61409-6
spellingShingle Han Qing Yang
Jun Yan Dai
Hui Dong Li
Lijie Wu
Zi Hang Shen
Qun Yan Zhou
Meng Zhen Zhang
Si Ran Wang
Zheng Xing Wang
Jun Wei Wu
Shi Jin
Wankai Tang
Qiang Cheng
Tie Jun Cui
Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
Nature Communications
title Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
title_full Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
title_fullStr Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
title_full_unstemmed Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
title_short Adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
title_sort adaptively programmable metasurface for intelligent wireless communications in complex environments
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61409-6
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