EVENTS

The mmWave and sub-THz spectrum is rapidly emerging as a foundation for next-generation wireless communication and sensing systems, driven by its immense bandwidth and sub-millimeter wavelengths. Yet, deployments face fundamental challenges: severe propagation loss, susceptibility to blockage, power-demanding PHY, and the breakdown of traditional far-field assumptions. Unlocking the full potential of these frontier frequencies demands physics-native solutions that capitalize on their unique properties.

This talk presents an ultra-wideband retro-directive backscatter architecture above 100 GHz that departs from conventional large-scale antenna arrays and significantly reduces power consumption. The migration to higher frequencies, together with electronically large arrays, has extended the Fraunhofer limit from a few centimeters to several meters, placing many users into the electromagnetic near-field of future base stations. Despite decades of progress in wireless communications, this near-field regime remains largely unexplored.

Programmable near-field beam shaping unlocks opportunities for communication and sensing. In particular, AI-assisted self-curving beams bend around obstacles, offering a path toward seamless connectivity in the presence of dynamic blockages. Finally, unprecedented application domains of mmWave/sub-THz sensing and imaging across disciplines such as agriculture and robotics highlight the transformative potential of these frontier bands.

Learning Objectives:
– Analyze the physical and architectural challenges of mmWave and sub-THz communication systems.
– Evaluate innovative near-field beamforming and sensing techniques for overcoming propagation limitations.
– Highlight unprecedented application domains of mmWave/sub-THz sensing and imaging across disciplines.

Institutions

• AI for Good