ARCADIA – Toward the commercial use of the spectrum above 100GHz (100-300GHz) for communication and sensing (standardization, HW development, radio interface), ARCADIA contributes through:
• Measurements and channel models with the main objective get a deeper understanding of the channel characteristics in some application scenarios (for instance, channel models in not stationary scenarios)
• Design of graphene-based components (antennas, RIS etc.) with the amin objective to understand whether and how graphene-based components can help in reducing the technology gap to make cost-effective full functional receivers.
Fundamental approach
Co-design of the HW components and radio interface – to find the best trade-off performance and HW limits (waveforms, beamforming approach etc.)
ARCADIA is part of Spoke 2 – Integration of Networks and Services
Project PI: Ernestina Cianca
• Optimized design of graphene-based devices operating in the range of TeraHertz. In particular, a graphene based reconfigurable intelligent surface working as reflector has been designed. Moreover, the unit cell design of the RIS has been optimized to reduce the impact of mutual coupling. Furthermore, the following graphene - based antennas have been designed: a circular disc-shaped transparent antenna which exploits graphene twin sector parasite to obtain beam steering in sub-THz range has been designed; an antenna consisting of two orthogonal dipoles surrounded by eight fan-blade shaped graphene parasitic sectors.
• Channel Sounding and Modeling – two channel sounding experimental setup have been acquired, one working at 170GHz and one at 220GHz. A channel sounding campaign has just started and collected data is under processing. In the meantime, we have used Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) measurements available in the existing open literature to characterize the angular dispersion and Second-Order Fading Statistics for sub-THz communication channels in several representative environments at frequencies ranging from 125 to 300 GHz.
• Development of the ARCADIA simulation framework that is a tool to aid the design and optimization of graphene-based communication and sensing systems at THz, providing insights into the behavior of materials/devices, RF component/circuits and propagation channel. .
• Channel Sounding and Modeling – two channel sounding experimental setup have been acquired, one working at 170GHz and one at 220GHz. A channel sounding campaign has just started and collected data is under processing. In the meantime, we have used Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) measurements available in the existing open literature to characterize the angular dispersion and Second-Order Fading Statistics for sub-THz communication channels in several representative environments at frequencies ranging from 125 to 300 GHz.
• Development of the ARCADIA simulation framework that is a tool to aid the design and optimization of graphene-based communication and sensing systems at THz, providing insights into the behavior of materials/devices, RF component/circuits and propagation channel. .
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) for THz communications - So far, by harnessing the unique properties of graphene and periodic structures, ARCADIA has developed a novel transparent reflective intelligent surface (RIS) with digital programmability. This metasurface can operate as both modulator and reflector, enabling dynamic electromagnetic wave manipulation via reflected wave phase control, paving the way for the realization of a new class of smart components for beyond 5G and 6G communication systems.
The design of unit cell of the RIS has been further optimized to reduce the impact of mutual coupling in the resulting RIS.
Papers:
I. Marasco, C. Cantore, G. V. Bianco, G.Bruno, A. D’orazio and G.Magno, "Transparent Graphene-Based RIS for 6G Communications in the THz Spectrum," in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, doi: 10.1109/OJAP.2024.3487793.
I. Marasco, G. Magno, E. Cianca, A. D'Orazio e M. Grande, "Progettazione di una superficie intelligente riconfigurabile basata su grafene nello spettro THz", European Wireless 2023; 28a Conferenza Europea sul Wireless, Roma, Italia, 2023, pp. 296-301.
S. Ullah, I. Marasco, A. D’Orazio and G. Magno, "Transparent antenna with reconfigurable pattern based on programmable graphene parasitic elements," 2024 24th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), Bari, Italy, 2024, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/ICTON62926.2024.10647773.
I. Marasco, C. Cantore, A. D’Orazio and G. Magno, "Design and analysis of a graphene-based metasurface modulator for 6G wireless communications," 2024 24th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), Bari, Italy, 2024, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/ICTON62926.2024.10647238.
S. Ullah, I. Marasco, A. D'Orazio, G. Magno, "Transparent Reconfigurable Dipole Antenna Based on Graphene Twin Parasitic Sectors," Proc. of 29th European Wireless Conference 2024, 9-11 Sept. Brno, Czech Republic.
Angular Dispersion and Second-order Fading Statistics Characterization for sub-THz communication channels have been characterized in several representative environments with frequencies ranging from 125 to 300 GHz. The provided analysis is of high significance in the design of various aspects at the physical layer of the communication protocol stack, such as antenna design (elements spacing), modulation, coding, and error correction schemes, especially when adaptive schemes are considered.
M. Asad; E. Cianca, S. J. Nawaz, T. Rossi, M. De Sanctis, “On the Characterization of Angular Dispersion and Fading Statistics of THz Communication Channels” on the proc. of IEEE PIMRC24 conference, Valencia Spain, 2-5 Sept. 2024.
E. Cianca, M. Asad, J. Nawaz Syed, T. Rossi, M. De Sanctis "On the Influence of Spatial Characteristics on Fading Statistics of Sub-THz Wireless Channels," Proc. of 29th European Wireless Conference 2024, 9-11 Sept. Brno, Czech Republic.
The design of unit cell of the RIS has been further optimized to reduce the impact of mutual coupling in the resulting RIS.
Papers:
I. Marasco, C. Cantore, G. V. Bianco, G.Bruno, A. D’orazio and G.Magno, "Transparent Graphene-Based RIS for 6G Communications in the THz Spectrum," in IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation, doi: 10.1109/OJAP.2024.3487793.
I. Marasco, G. Magno, E. Cianca, A. D'Orazio e M. Grande, "Progettazione di una superficie intelligente riconfigurabile basata su grafene nello spettro THz", European Wireless 2023; 28a Conferenza Europea sul Wireless, Roma, Italia, 2023, pp. 296-301.
S. Ullah, I. Marasco, A. D’Orazio and G. Magno, "Transparent antenna with reconfigurable pattern based on programmable graphene parasitic elements," 2024 24th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), Bari, Italy, 2024, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/ICTON62926.2024.10647773.
I. Marasco, C. Cantore, A. D’Orazio and G. Magno, "Design and analysis of a graphene-based metasurface modulator for 6G wireless communications," 2024 24th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), Bari, Italy, 2024, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/ICTON62926.2024.10647238.
S. Ullah, I. Marasco, A. D'Orazio, G. Magno, "Transparent Reconfigurable Dipole Antenna Based on Graphene Twin Parasitic Sectors," Proc. of 29th European Wireless Conference 2024, 9-11 Sept. Brno, Czech Republic.
Angular Dispersion and Second-order Fading Statistics Characterization for sub-THz communication channels have been characterized in several representative environments with frequencies ranging from 125 to 300 GHz. The provided analysis is of high significance in the design of various aspects at the physical layer of the communication protocol stack, such as antenna design (elements spacing), modulation, coding, and error correction schemes, especially when adaptive schemes are considered.
M. Asad; E. Cianca, S. J. Nawaz, T. Rossi, M. De Sanctis, “On the Characterization of Angular Dispersion and Fading Statistics of THz Communication Channels” on the proc. of IEEE PIMRC24 conference, Valencia Spain, 2-5 Sept. 2024.
E. Cianca, M. Asad, J. Nawaz Syed, T. Rossi, M. De Sanctis "On the Influence of Spatial Characteristics on Fading Statistics of Sub-THz Wireless Channels," Proc. of 29th European Wireless Conference 2024, 9-11 Sept. Brno, Czech Republic.
Graphene-based components for THz/sub-THz communication systems are not a consolidated reality.
ARCADIA project is one of the first project aiming to provide insights on the feasibility and limits of such technology for THz communication. Moreover, the channel sounding campaign focused on non-stationary channels, and the developed channel models will provide fundamental inputs to the design of communication and sensing systems at THz (not necessarily at graphene). ARCADIA is currently actively involved in a initiative aimed to develop a competence center for: Technology Scouting, Design, Implementation, Test of state of the art HW for mmw/THz telecom apps.
We think that participating in this initiatives will help in increasing the impact of the ARCADIA project results in the long term and will further stimulate synergies with other RESTART/non RESTART projects.
ARCADIA project is one of the first project aiming to provide insights on the feasibility and limits of such technology for THz communication. Moreover, the channel sounding campaign focused on non-stationary channels, and the developed channel models will provide fundamental inputs to the design of communication and sensing systems at THz (not necessarily at graphene). ARCADIA is currently actively involved in a initiative aimed to develop a competence center for: Technology Scouting, Design, Implementation, Test of state of the art HW for mmw/THz telecom apps.
We think that participating in this initiatives will help in increasing the impact of the ARCADIA project results in the long term and will further stimulate synergies with other RESTART/non RESTART projects.
Program Partners:
Cascade calls partners:
During the European Wireless conference 2023, hold on the 2-4 Oct. in Rome, Ilaria Marasco (Politecnico di Bari) presented the paper:
“Design of a Graphene-Based Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface in THz Spectrum”
Authored by: Ilaria Marasco, Giovanni Magno, Ernestina Cianca, Antonella D’Orazio, Marco Grande.
The paper have deeply analyzed graphene-based modulators, phase shifters and antennas with a particular focus on RIS. Moreover, a graphene-based unit cell suitable for the development of a reflective metasurface was proposed and numerically analyzed. The design of the same was achieved by exploiting two different approaches: one digital and one analog. Through these approaches, several possible solutions were identified, which enable the realization of electromagnetic functions based on phase control of the reflected wave. Future developments could involve the combination of the two approaches to achieve greater expressiveness in terms of the electromagnetic functions that the metasurface can exert. This device can pave the way for the realization of a new class of smart components for beyond 5G and 6G applications, as well as for 3D networks.
“Design of a Graphene-Based Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface in THz Spectrum”
Authored by: Ilaria Marasco, Giovanni Magno, Ernestina Cianca, Antonella D’Orazio, Marco Grande.
The paper have deeply analyzed graphene-based modulators, phase shifters and antennas with a particular focus on RIS. Moreover, a graphene-based unit cell suitable for the development of a reflective metasurface was proposed and numerically analyzed. The design of the same was achieved by exploiting two different approaches: one digital and one analog. Through these approaches, several possible solutions were identified, which enable the realization of electromagnetic functions based on phase control of the reflected wave. Future developments could involve the combination of the two approaches to achieve greater expressiveness in terms of the electromagnetic functions that the metasurface can exert. This device can pave the way for the realization of a new class of smart components for beyond 5G and 6G applications, as well as for 3D networks.
Publications
More information available here
- Expected: at least 10 in 36 months
- Accomplished (M30): 11
- Readiness Level: 100%
- Expected: around 3 in 36 months (i.e., 30% of the total Publications)
- Accomplished (M24): 3
- Readiness Level: 100%
- Expected: around 8 in 36 months
- Accomplished (M24): 2
- Readiness Level: >25%
- Expected: 1 progress meeting per month
- Accomplished (M30): accomplished
- Readiness Level: 100%
More information available here
- M1 Final definition of project vision and WP activities, expected: 4 ; accomplished: 4; readiness level: 100%
- M2 Preliminary definition of use cases, requirements and ITA NTN architecture, expected 4; accomplished: 4; readiness level: 100%
- M3 - Preliminary technical discussion on design of graphene-based components, antenna and metasurfaces- expected: 12; accomplished: 12; readiness level: 100%
- M4 Preliminary technical discussion on the measurements campaign expected 12, accomplished: 2; readiness level: 16%
- M5 Definition of the simulator architecture, expected: 3; accomplished: 3; readiness level: 100%
- M6 Results on the Measurement Compaign and Channel Models, expected: 0; accomplished: 0; readiness level: 0%
- M7 Final definition of technical solutions and methodologies - expected: 0; accomplished: 0; readiness level: 0%
- M8 Simulator delivery, expected: 0; accomplished: 0; readiness level: 0%
Researchers involved: 200 PM on three years
Collaboration proposals
ARCADIA looks for collaborations in the activity related to the development of graphene-based antennas and metasurfaces in the range between 100-300 GHz or beyond, focused on the numerical design and assessment of their feasibility. Whether an experimental prototype is required, it will be necessary to establish a collaboration with other research groups for the fabrication of graphene-based devices. Moreover, it will be also necessary to establish a collaboration with research groups able to characterize these devices in the frequency range of interest.
For any proposal of collaboration within the project please contact the project PI.