As one enabling technique of the future sixth generation (6G) network, ultra-massive multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) can support high-speed data transmissions and cell coverage extension. However, it is hard to realize the ultra-massive MIMO via traditional phased arrays due to unacceptable power consumption. To address this issue, reconfigurable intelligent surface-based (RIS-based) antennas are an energy-efficient enabler of the ultra-massive MIMO, since they are free of energy-hungry phase shifters. In this article, we report the performances of the RIS-enabled ultra-massive MIMO via a project called Verification of MmWave Multi-stream Transmissions Enabled by RIS-based Ultra-massive MIMO for 6G (V4M), which was proposed to promote the evolution towards IMT-2030. In the V4M project, we manufacture RIS-based antennas with 1024 one-bit elements working at 26 GHz, based on which an mmWave dual-stream ultra-massive MIMO prototype is implemented for the first time. To approach practical settings, the Tx and Rx of the prototype are implemented by one commercial new radio base station and one off-the-shelf user equipment, respectively. The measured data rate of the dual-stream prototype approaches the theoretical peak rate. Our contributions to the V4M project are also discussed by presenting technological challenges and corresponding solutions.
@article{arxiv.2310.15486,
title = {RIS-based IMT-2030 Testbed for MmWave Multi-stream Ultra-massive MIMO Communications},
author = {Shuhao Zeng and Boya Di and Hongliang Zhang and Jiahao Gao and Shaohua Yue and Xinyuan Hu and Rui Fu and Jiaqi Zhou and Xu Liu and Haobo Zhang and Yuhan Wang and Shaohui Sun and Haichao Qin and Xin Su and Mengjun Wang and Lingyang Song},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2310.15486},
year = {2023}
}
Comments
8 pages, 5 figures, to be published in IEEE Wireless Communications