Menu
MapConnectionsTopicsBulgariaThe Night (K-TRIO)Marie Skłodowska-CurieFor studentsFor teachersMethodologySurprise me
HEIndividual fellowship2022–2025

MIMOSA · Multibeam Integrated Optical Antenna Array Design for Free-Space Communication

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-09-01 → 2025-02-28
EU contribution
€211,658
Participants
3
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Multibeam Integrated Optical Antenna Array Design for Free-Space Communication

The rapid evolution of digital technology is shaping a future where self-driving cars, holographic video conferencing, and augmented reality become part of everyday life. However, these advanced applications demand ultra-fast and low-latency connectivity, which previous generations of mobile networks could not support. The innovation in 5th/6th generation (5G/6G) mobile network has addressed this challenge by redesigning network architecture to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. A major innovation in 5G/6G networks is the disaggregation of signal processing, which was traditionally performed at antenna sites. Instead, processing has been centralized and virtualized, significantly lowering infrastructure costs while enabling advanced functionalities. However, this new architecture creates a critical requirement for high-speed, low-latency fronthaul connections between distributed network components. The wireless technologies cannot support these stringent demands, making fiber optics the only viable solution. To address this challenge, the MIMOSA project developed a novel approach that merges radio frequency (RF) and photonic technologies to create an electronically reconfigurable optical MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) radiating system. By combining expertise in RF and wireless communications with advanced photonic technologies, MIMOSA project developed an optimal framework for transforming wireless communication needs into optical solutions. The project's impact extends beyond technical advancements; it will provide a scalable and cost-effective solution to meet the increasing demand for high-data-rate optical wireless links. These innovations will play a crucial role in supporting 5G/6G and future satellite based networks, contributing to the development of next-generation communication infrastructures that are more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and capable of handling the digital demands of the future.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Humanity envisions the future world with cars driving themselves, the holograms in video conferences, augmented reality used everywhere to assist our daily life, and the list continues. The previous generation of mobile networks could not support such applications, and so the redesign of the network was decided with the 5th generation (5G) network standardization. In the redesigned network topology the signal processing previously occurred on the antenna site was moved to a central location and virtualized. This disaggregation allowed advanced functionalities and reduce the cost of antenna sites. On the other hand, it generated the need for a very fast and low latency connection between these disaggregated units (fronthaul) which cannot be supported with current wireless technologies and so only the fiber can be used. The MIMOSA aims to combine concepts from the RF world with integrated photonics for producing and demonstrating a compact electronically reconfigurable optical MIMO radiating system. The multibeam feeding network and the radiating elements, antennas, will be designed as a single monolithic photonic chip, which will reduce significantly the cost and form factor of the system. A system with at least 8 controllable beams will be designed. With the researcher’s background lying in the field of RF and wireless communications, his close collaboration with a host institute with strong expertise in the field of photonics provides the optimal framework for translating wireless needs into optically-enabled realities. Such a multibeam steerable MIMO system is expected to offer high availability links operating in real-life atmospheric conditions offering capacities higher than 50Gbps for up to 1000m link distance. The project will generate a framework for the implementation of high data rate optical wireless links capable to support 5G and beyond fronthaul requirements while reducing the cost, mass, form factor, and power consumption of the links.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS · THESSALONIKICoordinatorGreece
  • ORGANISMOS TILEPIKOINONION TIS ELLADOS OTE AE · MAROUSSIGreece
  • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON · SOUTHAMPTONUnited Kingdom

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union