Abstract:
Light fidelity (LiFi), which is based on visible-light communications (VLC), is celebrated as a cutting-edge technological paradigm that is envisioned to be an indispensa...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Light fidelity (LiFi), which is based on visible-light communications (VLC), is celebrated as a cutting-edge technological paradigm that is envisioned to be an indispensable part of 6G systems. Nonetheless, LiFi performance is subject to efficiently overcoming line-of-sight (LoS) blockage, whose adverse effect on the reliability of wireless reception becomes even more pronounced in highly dynamic environments, such as vehicular applications. Meanwhile, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have recently emerged as a revolutionary concept that transforms the physical propagation environment into a fully controllable and customizable space using a low-cost, low-power approach. We anticipate that the integration of RISs into LiFi-enabled networks will not only support blockage mitigation but will also provision complex interactions among network entities, and is hence manifested as a promising platform that enables a plethora of technological trends and new applications. In this article, for the first time in open literature, we set the scene for a holistic overview of RIS-assisted LiFi systems. Specifically, we explore the underlying RIS architecture from the perspective of physics and present a forward-looking vision that outlines potential operational elements supported by RIS-enabled transceivers and environments. Finally, we highlight major associated challenges and offer a look ahead toward promising future directions.
Published in: IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine ( Volume: 17, Issue: 1, March 2022)
Funding Agency:
Electrical and Computer Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hanaa Abumarshoud (hanaa.abumarshoud@strath.ac.uk) is a research associate at the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom. She received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her main expertise is the application of information theory and signal processing techniques in visib...Show More
Hanaa Abumarshoud (hanaa.abumarshoud@strath.ac.uk) is a research associate at the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom. She received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her main expertise is the application of information theory and signal processing techniques in visib...View more
University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
Lina Mohjazi (l.mohjazi@ieee.org) is a lecturer in the School of Engineering, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. Her research interests include beyond-5G wireless technologies, wireless power transfer, machine learning, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. She is an associate editor for IEEE Open Journal o...Show More
Lina Mohjazi (l.mohjazi@ieee.org) is a lecturer in the School of Engineering, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. Her research interests include beyond-5G wireless technologies, wireless power transfer, machine learning, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. She is an associate editor for IEEE Open Journal o...View more
Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania
Octavia A. Dobre (odobre@mun.ca) is a professor and research chair at Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada. She received her Dipl.-Ing. and Ph.D. degrees from Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania. Her research interests include machine learning for communications, enabling technologies for beyond 5G, and optical and underwater communications. She was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Communicatio...Show More
Octavia A. Dobre (odobre@mun.ca) is a professor and research chair at Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada. She received her Dipl.-Ing. and Ph.D. degrees from Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania. Her research interests include machine learning for communications, enabling technologies for beyond 5G, and optical and underwater communications. She was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Communicatio...View more
CentraleSupelec, Paris, France
Marco Di Renzo (marco.di-renzo@universite-paris-saclay.fr) is a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Research Director with the Laboratory of Signals and Systems of Paris-Saclay University—CNRS and CentraleSupelec, Paris, 91192, France, and coordinator of the Communications and Networks Research Area of Paris-Saclay University’s Laboratory of Excellence DigiCosme. He serves as the editor-in-chief of IEEE Co...Show More
Marco Di Renzo (marco.di-renzo@universite-paris-saclay.fr) is a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Research Director with the Laboratory of Signals and Systems of Paris-Saclay University—CNRS and CentraleSupelec, Paris, 91192, France, and coordinator of the Communications and Networks Research Area of Paris-Saclay University’s Laboratory of Excellence DigiCosme. He serves as the editor-in-chief of IEEE Co...View more
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Muhammad Ali Imran (muhammad.imran@glasgow.ac.uk) is a professor of communication systems at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom, and dean of Glasgow College-University of Electronic Science and Technology China. He is an affiliate professor with the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. He is an associate edi...Show More
Muhammad Ali Imran (muhammad.imran@glasgow.ac.uk) is a professor of communication systems at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom, and dean of Glasgow College-University of Electronic Science and Technology China. He is an affiliate professor with the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. He is an associate edi...View more
University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Harald Haas (harald.haas@strath.ac.uk) is chair of mobile communications at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom, where he is also director of the LiFi Research and Development Centre. He is the initiator, cofounder, and chief scientific officer of pureLiFi Ltd. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. His research interests include optical wireless communica...Show More
Harald Haas (harald.haas@strath.ac.uk) is chair of mobile communications at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom, where he is also director of the LiFi Research and Development Centre. He is the initiator, cofounder, and chief scientific officer of pureLiFi Ltd. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. His research interests include optical wireless communica...View more
Contents Electrical and Computer Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hanaa Abumarshoud (hanaa.abumarshoud@strath.ac.uk) is a research associate at the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom. She received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her main expertise is the application of information theory and signal processing techniques in visible-light communications and LiFi systems, with a particular focus on intelligent communications, resource allocation, multiuser access, and physical-layer security.
Hanaa Abumarshoud (hanaa.abumarshoud@strath.ac.uk) is a research associate at the LiFi Research and Development Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom. She received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her main expertise is the application of information theory and signal processing techniques in visible-light communications and LiFi systems, with a particular focus on intelligent communications, resource allocation, multiuser access, and physical-layer security.View more
University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
Lina Mohjazi (l.mohjazi@ieee.org) is a lecturer in the School of Engineering, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. Her research interests include beyond-5G wireless technologies, wireless power transfer, machine learning, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. She is an associate editor for IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society and an area editor for Physical Communication (Elsevier). She is a Senior Member of IEEE.
Lina Mohjazi (l.mohjazi@ieee.org) is a lecturer in the School of Engineering, the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom. She received her Ph.D. degree from the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. Her research interests include beyond-5G wireless technologies, wireless power transfer, machine learning, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces. She is an associate editor for IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society and an area editor for Physical Communication (Elsevier). She is a Senior Member of IEEE.View more
Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania
Octavia A. Dobre (odobre@mun.ca) is a professor and research chair at Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada. She received her Dipl.-Ing. and Ph.D. degrees from Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania. Her research interests include machine learning for communications, enabling technologies for beyond 5G, and optical and underwater communications. She was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Communications Society and is a fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada.
Octavia A. Dobre (odobre@mun.ca) is a professor and research chair at Memorial University, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada. She received her Dipl.-Ing. and Ph.D. degrees from Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania. Her research interests include machine learning for communications, enabling technologies for beyond 5G, and optical and underwater communications. She was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Communications Society and is a fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada.View more
CentraleSupelec, Paris, France
Marco Di Renzo (marco.di-renzo@universite-paris-saclay.fr) is a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Research Director with the Laboratory of Signals and Systems of Paris-Saclay University—CNRS and CentraleSupelec, Paris, 91192, France, and coordinator of the Communications and Networks Research Area of Paris-Saclay University’s Laboratory of Excellence DigiCosme. He serves as the editor-in-chief of IEEE Communications Letters and the founding chair of the Special Interest Group on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces of the Wireless Technical Committee of the IEEE Communications Society. He is a Fellow of IEEE.
Marco Di Renzo (marco.di-renzo@universite-paris-saclay.fr) is a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Research Director with the Laboratory of Signals and Systems of Paris-Saclay University—CNRS and CentraleSupelec, Paris, 91192, France, and coordinator of the Communications and Networks Research Area of Paris-Saclay University’s Laboratory of Excellence DigiCosme. He serves as the editor-in-chief of IEEE Communications Letters and the founding chair of the Special Interest Group on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces of the Wireless Technical Committee of the IEEE Communications Society. He is a Fellow of IEEE.View more
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Muhammad Ali Imran (muhammad.imran@glasgow.ac.uk) is a professor of communication systems at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom, and dean of Glasgow College-University of Electronic Science and Technology China. He is an affiliate professor with the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. He is an associate editor for IEEE Communications Letters, IEEE Access, and IET Communications Journals.
Muhammad Ali Imran (muhammad.imran@glasgow.ac.uk) is a professor of communication systems at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom, and dean of Glasgow College-University of Electronic Science and Technology China. He is an affiliate professor with the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, and a visiting professor at the University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom. He is an associate editor for IEEE Communications Letters, IEEE Access, and IET Communications Journals.View more
University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Harald Haas (harald.haas@strath.ac.uk) is chair of mobile communications at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom, where he is also director of the LiFi Research and Development Centre. He is the initiator, cofounder, and chief scientific officer of pureLiFi Ltd. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. His research interests include optical wireless communications, hybrid optical wireless and radio-frequency communications, spatial modulation, and interference coordination in wireless networks.
Harald Haas (harald.haas@strath.ac.uk) is chair of mobile communications at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G1 1RD, United Kingdom, where he is also director of the LiFi Research and Development Centre. He is the initiator, cofounder, and chief scientific officer of pureLiFi Ltd. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. His research interests include optical wireless communications, hybrid optical wireless and radio-frequency communications, spatial modulation, and interference coordination in wireless networks.View more
