Talking About Reconfigurable Intelligent Radio-Enabled Surfaces

Feb. 2, 2022

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) leverage smart radio surfaces with thousands of small metamaterial elements that dynamically shape and control RF signals.

Alix Paultre

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Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) leverage smart radio surfaces with thousands of small metamaterial elements that dynamically shape and control radio signals. The technology can enhance key-performance indicators for various systems such as coverage and capacity, as well as localization and sensing, among others.

We talk to Arman Shojaeifard, Chair of the Industry Specification Group on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (ISG RIS) at ETSI, about the technology and its ramifications. For example, an RIS can reconfigure the radio environment to sense human posture and detect someone falling—a very useful application for elderly care.

About the Author

Alix Paultre | Editor-at-Large, Electronic Design

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the US military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications in the embedded electronic engineering space. Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Also check out his YouTube watch-collecting channel, Talking Timepieces.