ERC Consolidator Grant - BEATRICE

Summary

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MaMi) is now a core technology for 5G networks. With MaMi, we refer to systems with an unconventionally large number (e.g. hundreds or even thousands) of base station antennas simultaneously serving tens (or even hundreds) of users. To date, the development of MaMi has been exclusively based on information theory (IT) tailored towards cellular communications. While IT is undoubtedly a versatile mathematical tool, it is based on mathematical logic. This theoretical framework now needs to be extended and reshaped to: (i) account for the unique electromagnetic (EM) properties and (ii) incorporate the main feature of future MaMi-based communication systems, namely their capability of sensing the system’s response to the radio waves, and thereby informing its modification. Looking ahead, MaMi will have far more general applications: optical communications, radar, and wireless power transfer to name a few. The grand question that the proposed research will address is: Are the existing IT tools sufficient to understand the physical phenomena and develop the upcoming generation of MaMi-based systems in ten years from now? BEATRICE will address this fundamental question by unifying EM theory and IT and pave the way for an extended range of applications supported by massive antenna arrays after 2025. The specific project objectives are to: 

O1) Redefine the information theoretic modelling of concurrent and future MaMi-based systems using knowledge of unique EM characteristics, thereby quantifying their realisable potential. 

O2) Develop new topological designs and modulation techniques for robust communication by harnessing knowledge about the EM properties of the transceivers and the propagation medium. 

O3) Leverage the world-class T&M facilities at QUB, to design, fabricate and measure novel array topologies which will be able to support a plethora of MaMi-based applications.

Presentations

• How to achieve spatial modulation using an IRS?, Invited Speaker, IEEE International Conference on Telecommunications (ICT), June 2021.

• When Shannon met Maxwell: A long awaiting rendezvous, Keynote speaker, 2021 International Conference on Electronics, Electrical and Information Engineering (ICEEIE)

• When Shannon met Maxwell: A long awaiting rendezvous, Keynote speaker, 2021 IEEE International Workshop on Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications (SPAWC), September 2021.

• Electromagnetic modeling of intelligent reflecting surfaces in the THz band, Invited Speaker, 46th Wireless World Research Forum (WRF), December 2021 (Presenter: Dr Konstantinos Dovelos).

• Superdirective antenna arrays: An old idea whose time has come, Keynote Speaker, 2022 International Conference on Innovative Computing and Communication (ICICC), February 2022.

• 6G and modern societies: Challenging the future, Keynote Speaker, BEYOND EXPO 2022, September 2022.

• How to get an ERC grant, Invited Seminar, ERC CoG 2023 NCP webinar, October 2022.

Related publications

1. K. Dovelos, S. D. Assimonis, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, IRS in the Near-Field: From Basic Principles to Optimal Design, Intelligent Reconfigurable Surfaces (IRS) for Prospective 6G Wireless Networks, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2022.

2. B. Liao, H. Q. Ngo, M. Matthaiou, and P. J. Smith, “Power allocation for massive MIMO-ISAC systems,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2024.

3. Y. Ren, M. Zhou, X. Teng, S. Meng, W. Tang, X. Li, S. Jin, and M. Matthaiou, “Time-domain channel measurements and small-scale fading characterization for RIS-assisted wireless communication systems,” IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 73, no. 8, pp. 12178 - 12183, August 2024.

4. G. Zhang, W. Yi, M. Matthaiou, and P. K. Varshney, “Direct target localization with transmission uncertainties in wireless sensor networks,” IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing,  vol. 72, pp. 3059-3075, July 2024.

5. J. Tian, Y. Han, S. Jin, X. Li, J. Zhang, and M. Matthaiou, “Near-field channel reconstruction in sensing RIS-assisted wireless communication systems,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 6938–6953, July 2024.

6. G. Liu, Z. Hu, L. Wang, J. Xue, and M. Matthaiou, “Hypernetwork based framework for non-stationary channel prediction,” IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 73, no. 6, pp. 8338–8351, June 2024.

7. Y. Lin, S. Jin, M. Matthaiou, and X. Yi, “Circular RIS-enabled channel estimation and localization for multi-user ISAC systems,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 8730-8743, Aug. 2024.

8. Z. Lu, Y. Han, S. Jin, and M. Matthaiou, “Near-field localization and channel reconstruction for ELAA systems,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 6938–6953, July 2024. 

9. K. Ying, Z. Gao, S. Chen, X. Gao, M. Matthaiou, R. Zhang, and R. Schober, “Reconfigurable massive MIMO: Harnessing the power of the electromagnetic domain for enhanced information transfer,” IEEE Wireless Communications, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 125–132, June 2024.  

10. J. A. C. Sutton, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, "I/Q imbalance compensation in cell-free massive MIMO during uplink transmission,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, no. 11, pp. 20392–20403, June 2024.

11. C. Hao, T. T. Vu, H. Q. Ngo, M. N. Dao, X. Dang, and M. Matthaiou, “Joint user association and power control for cell-free massive MIMO networks,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 15823–15841, May 2024.

12. N. Simmons, J. W. Browning, S. L. Cotton, P. C. Sofotasios, D. Moralez-Jimenes, M. Matthaiou, and M. A. B. Abbasi, “A simulation framework for cooperative reconfigurable intelligent surface based systems,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 480–495, January 2024.

13. N. Gao, Q. Huang, C. Li, S. Jin, and M. Matthaiou, “EsaNet: Environment semantics enabled physical layer authentication,” IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 178–182, January 2024.

14. M. Elfiatoure, M. Mohammadali, H. Q. Ngo, P. J. Smith, and M. Matthaiou, “Protecting massive MIMO-radar coexistence: Precoding design and power control,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 5, pp. 276-293, January 2024.

15.  I. Kanbaz, U. Yesilyurt, O. G. Arica, E. Aksoy, and M. Matthaiou, “On the sideband harmonics in pulsed frequency diverse arrays,” IEEE Access, vol. 11, pp. 144435–144445, December 2023.

16. K. Dovelos, S. D. Assimonis, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Superdirective antenna pairs for energy-efficient terahertz massive MIMO,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 7316 -7332, December 2023.

17. M. Mohammadali, T. T. Vu, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Network-assisted full-duplex cell-free massive MIMO: Spectral and energy efficiencies,” IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 41, no. 9, pp. 2833-2851, September 2023.

18. Y. Han, S. Jin, M. Matthaiou, T. Q. S. Quek, and C.-K. Wen, “Towards extra large-scale MIMO: New channel properties and low-cost designs,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 10, no. 16, pp. 14569-14594, August 2023.

19. K. Ying, Z. Gao, S. Chen, X. Gao, M. Matthaiou, R. Zhang, and R. Schober, “Reconfigurable massive MIMO: Harnessing the power of the electromagnetic domain for enhanced information transfer,” IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine, 2023. 

20. Y. Lin, S. Jin, M. Matthaiou, and X. You, “Conformal IRS-empowered MIMO-OFDM: Channel estimation and environment mapping,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 70, no. 7, pp. 4884–4899, July 2022.

21. Y. Lin, S. Jin, M. Matthaiou, and X. You, “Channel estimation and user localization for IRS-assisted MIMO-OFDM systems,” IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 2320–2335, April 2022.

22. A. Almradi, M. A. B. Abbasi, M. Matthaiou, and V. F. Fusco, “On the spectral efficiency of orbital angular momentum with mode offset,” IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 70, no.11, pp. 11748–11760, November 2021.

23. C. Y. Goay, D. Mishra, M. Matthaiou, and A. Seneviratne, “Backscatter communication with selective FSK modulation,” in Proc. IEEE International Workshop on Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications (SPAWC), September 2024.

24. W. Chen, Z. Wei, Z. Yang, D. W. K. Ng, and M. Matthaiou, “Beamforming design for RIS-aided MIMO communication: A piece-wise near-field model,” in Proc. IEEE/CIC International Conference on Communications in China (ICCC), August 2024.

25. G. Zhang, Y. Liang, C. Wang, W. Yi, H. Q. Ngo, M. Matthaiou, and P. K. Varshney, ‘Distributed direct localization based on Gauss-Newton method in multi-sensor networks,” in Proc. ISIF International Conference on Information Fusion (FUSION), July 2024. (Invited paper)

26. T. D. Hua, M. Mohammadi, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Cell-free massive MIMO SWIFT with beyond diagonal reconfigurable intelligent surfaces,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024.

27. X. Cao, M. Mohammadi, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “RIS-assisted XL-MIMO for or coexistence of near-field and far-field communications,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024.

28. F. Jafarian, M. Ardebilipour, M. Mohammadi, and M. Matthaiou, “Wireless information surveillance via STAR-RIS,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024.

29. Z. Sui, H. Zhang, H. Q. Ngo, M. Matthaiou, and L. Hanzo, “On the BER vs. bandwidth-efficiency trade-offs in windowed OTSM dispensing with zero-padding,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024.

30. I. Kanbaz, O. Yurduseven, and M. Matthaiou, “Super-directive antenna arrays: How many elements do we need?,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024.

31. Y. S. Atiya, Z. Mobini, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Joint power optimization and AP selection for secure cell-free massive MIMO,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2024.

32. Z. Yu, Y. Han, J. Zhang, S. Jin, and M. Matthaiou, “Interference-free transmission for near-field communication with unlimited antennas,” in Proc. IEEE European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), March 2024.

33. I. Kanbaz, O. Yurduseven, and M. Matthaiou, “Optimization of super-directive linear arrays with differential evolution for high realized gain,” in Proc. IEEE European Conference on Antennas and Propagation (EuCAP), March 2024.

34. T. Lu, L. Chen, J. Zhang, C. Chen, T. Q. Duong, and M. Matthaiou, “Precoding design for key generation in near-field extremely large-scale MIMO communications,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2023, pp. 172-177. 

35. M. Elfiatoure, M. Mohammadi, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Cell-free massive MIMO for ISAC: Access point operation mode selection and power control,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2023, pp. 104-109.

36. B. Liao, H. Q. Ngo, M. Matthaiou, and P. J. Smith, “Low-complexity transmit beamforming design for massive MIMO-ISAC systems,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2023, pp. 540-545.

37. R. Chong, M. Mohammadi, H. Q. Ngo, S. L. Cotton, and M. Matthaiou,  “How to combine OTFS and OFDM modulations in massive MIMO?,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2023, pp. 6952-6957.

38. Z. Mobini, H. Q. Ngo, M. Matthaiou, and L. Hanzo, “Cell-free massive MIMO surveillance systems,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2023, pp. 5973-5978.

39. M. Mohammadi, L.-N. Tran, Z. Mobini, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou,  “Cell-free massive MIMO and  SWIPT: Access point operation mode selection and power control,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2023, pp. 661-666.

40. J. Wang, W. Tang, S. Jin, X. Li, and M. Matthaiou, “Static power consumption modeling and measurement of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces,” in Proc. IEEE European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO), September 2023, pp. 890-894 (Invited paper). 

41. C. Hao, T. T. Vu, H. Q. Ngo, M. N. Dao, X. Dang, and M. Matthaiou, “User association and power control in cell-free massive MIMO with the APG method,” in Proc. IEEE European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO), September 2023, pp. 1469-1473. 

42. Y. S. Atiya, Z. Mobini, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Cell-free massive MIMO with protective partial zero-forcing and active eavesdropping,” in Proc. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), June 2023.

43. M. Mohammadali, Z. Mobini, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Integration of massive MIMO and RIS to serve energy and information users,” in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), May 2023. 

44. T. Ling, Y. Han, S. Jin, and M. Matthaiou, “Two-phase parameter-based separate channel estimation in RIS-aided MIMO OFDM systems,” in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC), May 2023. 

45. S. K. Chou, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “On the spectral efficiency of hybrid relay/RIS-assisted massive MIMO systems,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), March 2023.

46. K. Dovelos, S. D. Assimonis, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Superdirective arrays with finite-length dipoles: Modeling and new perspectives,” in Proc. IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM), December 2022.

47. L. Jiang, C. Luo, X. Li, M. Matthaiou, and S. Jin, “RIS-assisted downlink multi-cell communication using statistical CSI,” in Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Wireless Communications Systems (ISWCS), October 2022.

48. R. Chong, M. Mohammadi, H. Q. Ngo, S. L. Cotton, and M. Matthaiou, “On the spectral efficiency of MMSE- based MIMO OTFS systems,” in Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Wireless Communications Systems (ISWCS), October 2022. (Invited paper)

49. Z. Lu, Y. Han, S. Jin, M. Matthaiou, and T. S. Quek, “Near-field channel reconstruction and user localization for ELAA systems,” in Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Wireless Communications Systems (ISWCS), October 2022.

50. M. Mohammadali, T. T. Vu, B. N. Beni,  H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Virtually full-duplex cell-free massive MIMO with access point mode assignment,” in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications (SPAWC), July 2022. (Invited paper).

51. T. T. Vu, T. V. Chien, C. T. Dinh, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Channel estimation in RIS-assisted downlink massive MIMO: A learning-based approach,” in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications (SPAWC), July 2022. (Invited paper).

52. L. Yang, X. Li, S. Jin, M. Matthaiou, and F.-C. Zheng, “Fine-grained analysis of reconfigurable intelligent surface-assisted mmWave networks,” in Proc. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference (VTC), June 2022.

53. J. Feng, H. Q. Ngo, and M. Matthaiou, “Concentration of measure: Non-asymptotic analysis for uplink MU-MIMO,” in Proc. IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), April 2022, pp. 1353-1358.

54. K. Dovelos, S. D. Assimonis, H. Q. Ngo, B. Bellalta, and M. Matthaiou, “Intelligent reflecting surface-aided wideband THz communications: Modeling and analysis,” in Proc. IEEE Workshop on Smart Antennas (WSA), November 2021. (Invited paper).

55. H. Que, J. Yang, S. Jin, B. Gao, and M. Matthaiou, “Communication and localization with extremely large linear distributed lens antenna arrays,” in Proc. IEEE Workshop on Smart Antennas (WSA), November 2021.

56. K. Dovelos, S. D. Assimonis, H. Q. Ngo, B. Bellalta, and M. Matthaiou, “Electromagnetic modeling of holographic intelligent reflecting surfaces at terahertz bands,” in Proc. IEEE Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers, November 2021. (Invited paper).

57. T. T. Vu, H. Q. Ngo, T. L. Marzetta, and M. Matthaiou, “How does cell-free massive MIMO support multiple federated learning groups?,” in Proc. IEEE International Conference on Signal Processing Advances in Wireless Communications (SPAWC), September 2021. (Invited paper).

ERC team

Dr Mohammadali Mohammadi                                   Dr Ihsan Kanbaz                                                      Mr Muhammad Zeeshan Mumtaz 

Mrs Rozita Konstantinou              Mrs Xiaomin Cao