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Ampli-Flection for 6G: Active-RIS-Aided Aerial Backhaul with Full 3D Coverage

Hong-Bae Jeon, Chan-Byoung Chae

TL;DR

Simulation results confirm that the proposed aerial backhaul architecture significantly outperforms benchmarks, demonstrating its strong potential to deliver resilient backhaul connectivity with comprehensive 3D coverage in 6G networks.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel aerial backhaul architecture that employs an aerial active reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) to achieve energy-efficient, {full 3D coverage including UAV-BSs and ground users in 6G wireless networks}. Unlike prior aerial-RIS approaches limited to {2D coverage with only servicing ground users} or passive operation, the proposed design integrates an active-RIS onto a high-altitude aerial platform, enabling reliable line-of-sight links and overcoming multiplicative fading through amplification. In a scenario with UAV-BSs deployed to handle sudden traffic surges in urban areas, the aerial-active-RIS both reflects and amplifies backhaul signals to overcome blockage. We jointly optimize the aerial platform placement, array partitioning, and RIS phase configuration to maximize UAV-BS energy-efficiency. Simulation results confirm that the proposed method significantly outperforms benchmarks, demonstrating its strong potential to deliver resilient backhaul connectivity with comprehensive 3D coverage in 6G networks.

Ampli-Flection for 6G: Active-RIS-Aided Aerial Backhaul with Full 3D Coverage

TL;DR

Simulation results confirm that the proposed aerial backhaul architecture significantly outperforms benchmarks, demonstrating its strong potential to deliver resilient backhaul connectivity with comprehensive 3D coverage in 6G networks.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel aerial backhaul architecture that employs an aerial active reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) to achieve energy-efficient, {full 3D coverage including UAV-BSs and ground users in 6G wireless networks}. Unlike prior aerial-RIS approaches limited to {2D coverage with only servicing ground users} or passive operation, the proposed design integrates an active-RIS onto a high-altitude aerial platform, enabling reliable line-of-sight links and overcoming multiplicative fading through amplification. In a scenario with UAV-BSs deployed to handle sudden traffic surges in urban areas, the aerial-active-RIS both reflects and amplifies backhaul signals to overcome blockage. We jointly optimize the aerial platform placement, array partitioning, and RIS phase configuration to maximize UAV-BS energy-efficiency. Simulation results confirm that the proposed method significantly outperforms benchmarks, demonstrating its strong potential to deliver resilient backhaul connectivity with comprehensive 3D coverage in 6G networks.
Paper Structure (16 sections, 2 theorems, 70 equations, 9 figures, 1 table)

This paper contains 16 sections, 2 theorems, 70 equations, 9 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. System Model
  3. Aerial Backhaul with Conventional Passive-RIS
  4. Implementation of Active-RIS
  5. Proposed Algorithm
  6. Minimizing the Numerator
  7. Maximizing the Denominator
  8. Determining $\alpha$ and $\{P_m\}_{m\in\mathbb{M}}$
  9. Conditions for Feasibility
  10. Analysis on Computational Complexity
  11. Numerical Results
  12. Simulation Setup
  13. Active-RIS vs. AF Relay: Performance Comparison
  14. Reliability of Placement and Amplification in Aerial-Active-RIS
  15. Comparison of Total Power under Various Conditions
  16. ...and 1 more sections

Key Result

Theorem 1

The solution of Problem (num) is given by where Here, $a$ and $b$ are given by where

Figures (9)

  • Figure 1: (a) UAV-BS access network supported by an aerial-active-RIS backhaul and (b) signal model illustration of the aerial-active-RIS.
  • Figure 2: Illustration of passive beamforming gain $g$ and the full/sub-array structure: (a) The main lobe characteristics obtained under a general unequal gain configuration $\{\alpha_n\}_{n=1}^N$ are nearly identical to those under the equal-gain case $\alpha_n=\alpha~(\forall n)$. (b) When the sin-AoD deviation lies beyond the HPBW of the full-array beamforming pattern, a sub-array structure is employed to accommodate the deviated point.
  • Figure 3: Simulated aerial-active-RIS configuration with an $N$-element active-RIS and $M_0$ UAV-BSs.
  • Figure 4: Simulated aerial-active-RIS configuration compared to $M$-array aerial-AF-relay.
  • Figure 5: Variation of $\kappa_m$ as a function of the aerial-active-RIS altitude and the 2D source-UAV distance with $h_m = 45~\textrm{m}$.
  • ...and 4 more figures

Theorems & Definitions (6)

  • Remark 1
  • Theorem 1
  • proof
  • Remark 2
  • Theorem 2
  • proof