RAFINE | Reflecting Intelligent Surfaces

Optimising wireless communications with intelligent surfaces

Against a backdrop of transition to 6G, the RAFINE project is exploring an innovative technology for improving wireless communications: reflecting intelligent surfaces (RIS). These surfaces optimise network coverage, throughput and quality, while reducing energy consumption. RAFINE is focussing on indoor and outdoor applications using 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi, in environments such as offices, railway stations and shopping centres.

Context

With 5G, antennae direct the signals, but the propagation channel remains unchanged. Metasurfaces such as RIS represent a significant advance: they enable waves to be redirected in order to reinforce connectivity. Consisting of thousands of metal patterns on a substrate, they can reflect waves in unprecedented directions. Despite strong scientific interest, few prototypes exist at present. Current solutions are complex, energy-intensive and costly to implement.

Target group

The project is aimed mainly at:

• Telecommunications operators and network integrators
• Suppliers of advanced electronic solutions
• Managers of complex infrastructure (stations, shopping centres, campuses)

Objectives & results

RAFINE’s ambition is to develop passive, controllable RIS panels capable of acting on waves at 5.8 GHz with a limited number of activation points.

More specifically, RAFINE aims to:

1. Create demonstrators of passive and controllable RIS panels
2. Develop direct design methods using surface waves
3. Reduce energy consumption, in particular by using a solar power supply
4. Optimise manufacturing processes for large-scale production that is sustainable in terms of materials and design

Key results:

Practical solutions for improving wireless coverage in complex areas, reducing the number of transmitters needed and creating areas with low electromagnetic exposure. A custom design service will accompany the launch.

Approach

The project is structured around five complementary strands:

1. Propagation channel reconfiguration
   Definition of usage scenarios and performance metrics.
2. Digital design
   Development of simulation tools, optimisation of structures and their control.
3. Electronics design and validation
   Circuit design, integration on substrates, laboratory testing and validation.
4. Design, integration and manufacturing
   Choice of sustainable materials and development of processes suitable for production on an industrial scale.
5. Demonstration and valorisation
   Tests in a real environment, market analysis and valorisation of results.

Funding

• Funding agency: Wallonie Recherche SPW
• Project type: Win2Wal - R&D research institutions
• Total budget: €870,349.21

External links

• Partners: Sirris Development Hub, UCLouvain - ICTEAM/Antennes and ICTEAM/Communication Systems (lead partner)
• Industrial support: CEPYA Electronics
• Monitoring committee: Proximus, ATLR, AGC