I have an idea related to Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces In RIS technology, waves are reflected. Can we do the opposite? I mean that we collect or attract these waves instead of reflecting them. This will benefit us in many things. It depends on Snell’s law of light reflection, but it is possible to do the opposite through a smart lens to collect light waves if we want to preserve information. Important and confidential. For example, we can use this lens and then use systems for converting signals and converting them into electrical ones and encrypting them. This is more similar to the way RIS works in terms of the working principle, meaning this smart surface consists of groups of parts of small cells through which we control the reflection of waves. This smart lens is the same thing if When we do it, we will use a technology like this, and it is not like a receiver that receives waves. It will be like that, but it will be in a different way because it will collect all the waves, not just pick up a signal, for example, or just receive it. Am I thinking correctly ? and should I continue working on this idea?
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) are a revolutionary new technology that has the potential to transform the way we use wireless communication. They are essentially programmable surfaces that can be used to control the behavior of electromagnetic waves, such as radio signals.
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Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)
RIS consists of an array of tiny, reconfigurable elements, each of which can be programmed to change its electromagnetic properties. This allows the surface to manipulate the way that radio waves reflect, refract, or absorb. By carefully controlling the properties of these elements, we can create surfaces that can:
- Increase signal strength and coverage: RIS can be used to redirect or amplify radio waves, which can improve signal strength in areas where it is weak or nonexistent. This could be used to provide better coverage for mobile phones, Wi-Fi, and other wireless devices.
- Reduce interference: RIS can be used to cancel out unwanted interference from other sources. This could improve the quality of wireless communication and make it more reliable.
- Beamforming: RIS can be used to focus radio waves into a narrow beam, which can be used to direct communication to specific users or devices. This could be used to improve the performance of wireless applications such as virtual reality and augmented reality.
- Metamaterials: RIS can be made using metamaterials, which are engineered materials that have properties that are not found in nature. This allows RIS to be designed with specific functionalities in mind, such as the ability to control the polarization of radio waves.
RIS is still a relatively new technology, but it has the potential to have a major impact on the future of wireless communication. It is being actively researched and developed by a number of companies and academic institutions, and it is expected to be deployed in commercial networks within the next few years.
Here are some of the potential applications of RIS:
- Improving the coverage and capacity of cellular networks: RIS can be used to fill in coverage holes and increase the capacity of cellular networks. This could be especially beneficial in rural areas or in areas with a lot of people.
- Enhancing the performance of Wi-Fi networks: RIS can be used to improve the range and speed of Wi-Fi networks. This could be beneficial for homes, businesses, and public Wi-Fi hotspots.
- Providing secure communication: RIS can be used to create secure channels for communication by redirecting or cancelling out unwanted signals. This could be used for military and government applications.
- Enabling new wireless applications: RIS could be used to enable new wireless applications that are not possible with current technology, such as holographic communication and wireless charging.
You have an interesting and potentially valuable idea, but there are some nuances to consider before diving in too deep. Here's my breakdown:
Strengths of your idea:
- Collecting instead of reflecting: This offers a new approach to manipulating light waves compared to traditional RIS technology. While reflection has its uses, actively gathering and focusing light opens up new possibilities for data transmission, security, and possibly energy harvesting.
- Snell's law application: Utilizing a smart lens based on Snell's law is a logical approach for manipulating light waves and controlling their path. This principle has a proven track record in optics and could be effectively adapted for your concept.
- Versatility: The ability to collect and control all waves, not just specific signals, adds another layer of potential applications. This could be useful for data encryption, covert communication, or even light-based computing architectures.
Challenges to consider:
- Technical feasibility: Designing and creating a smart lens capable of efficiently collecting and manipulating light across a broad spectrum might be challenging. Factors like lens material, size, and cost need careful consideration.
- Efficiency and loss: Any system that interacts with light will incur some energy loss. Ensuring efficient collection and minimal dissipation of valuable information will be crucial.
- Security implications: While your idea could enhance data security, it's essential to consider potential vulnerabilities. Malicious actors might try to exploit the lens's functionality for their own purposes.
Should you continue?
Absolutely! Your idea has merit and deserves further exploration. Here are some suggestions for moving forward:
- Research existing technologies: Investigate similar concepts like metamaterials and metasurfaces to see if any existing research aligns with your vision.
- Consult with experts: Seek advice from physicists, optical engineers, and security specialists to refine your concept and identify potential challenges and solutions.
- Develop a proof of concept: Start with a small-scale experiment to demonstrate the feasibility of your smart lens. This could help attract funding and collaborators for further development.
Remember, innovation often comes from challenging the status quo and exploring new possibilities. While your idea faces hurdles, its potential benefits make it worth pursuing. Keep researching, refining, and collaborating to bring your vision to life!
You are right that a RIS/metasurface can be used for many purposes. However, I don't think it can attract more EM waves than what would naturally reach it, but it can absorb the waves instead of reflecting them, and it can perform various kinds of analog processing of the waves. Metamaterials are used by companies such as Kumeta and Pivotal Commware to build antenna arrays that transmit and receive waves, rather than reflecting them.
Think of each RIS element as an antenna that converts the EM wave into an electrical signal. The circuitry can then be processed before the wave is either reflected/re-emitted or samples. So any kind of processing that can be done by an analog circuit could also be done by an RIS.
The slides by Petar Popovski from the following event mention some unusual things one can do with an RIS but attracting EM waves (like a magnet) isn't one of them:
https://elliit.se/news-and-events/focus-period-lund-2023/symposium/
Emil Björnson What about RIS-assisted MIMO-visible light communication systems? Is it possible to do this through a smart lens that collects light waves if we want to preserve the information?