2020/01/16 by Liesbet Van der Perre, Erik G. Larsson, Van der Perre, Liesbet +9 · 1 citation
Computer Science · Engineering · #Opportunistic and Delay-Tolerant Networks #Energy Harvesting in Wireless Networks #Energy Efficient Wireless Sensor Networks
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2001.05779
We present a new type of wireless access infras-tructure consisting of a\nfabric of dispersed electronic circuitsand antennas that collectively function\nas a massive, distributed antenna array. We have chosen to name this new\nwireless infrastructure 'RadioWeaves' and anticipate they can be integrated\ninto indoor and outdoor walls, furniture, and otherobjects, rendering them a\nnatural part of the environment. Technologically, RadioWeaves will deploy\ndistributed arrays to create both favorable propagation and antenna array\ninteraction. The technology leverages on the ideas of large-scale intelligent\nsurfaces and cell-free wireless access. Offering close to the service\nconnectivity and computing, new grades in energy efficiency,reliability, and\nlow latency can be reached. The new concept moreover can be scaled up easily to\noffer a very high capacity inspecific areas demanding so. In this paper we\nanticipate how two different demanding use cases can be served well by a\ndedicated RadioWeaves deployment: a crowd scenario and a highly reflective\nfactory environment. A practical approach towards a RadioWeaves prototype,\nintegrating dispersed electronics invisibly in a room environment, is\nintroduced. We outline diverse R &D challenges that need to be addressed to\nrealize the great potential of the RadioWeaves technology.\n