Dr. Yuanwei Liu’s research contributions on next generation multiple access (NGMA) and simultaneously transmitting and reflecting surface (STARS) provide fundamental theories for improving communication performance and connectivity, reducing operational costs, and enabling multi-functional integration of future wireless networks. The utilization of these cutting-edge technologies is expected to facilitate sustainable, ubiquitous, and green 6G wireless networks.
The number of wireless devices is projected to surge to 29.3 billion by the end of 2023, and this upward trend is expected to persist in the following decade. This rapid expansion of wireless devices, coupled with the growing device density and a plethora of applications, poses significant challenges for the development of 6G wireless networks. While current wireless communication technologies have made significant progress, they still face limitations in terms of spectrum efficiency and coverage, which can impede the full utilization of wireless resources. Moreover, issues like limited user connectivity and high implementation costs pose additional challenges.
The NGMA and STARS technologies proposed by Dr. Yuanwei Liu are designed to satisfy the varied requirements of 6G, including massive connectivity, seamless integration of multi-functional wireless networks, and cost-effective operations.
The NGMA technology leverages non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) to surpass the "orthogonality" limitation of conventional access technologies, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of wireless resource utilization in 6G. NGMA can flexibly and intelligently accommodate a vast number of terminals while supporting the seamless integration of communication, sensing, and computing wireless networks.
The STARS technology integrates both transmission and reflection capabilities, providing a 360-degree smart radio environment for 6G. STARS significantly improves network coverage and communication quality without incurring additional economical costs and energy consumption, thereby enabling a sustainable and environmentally friendly 6G network.
Given his pioneering contributions to wireless communications, Dr. Liu is listed as a Web of Science highly cited researcher and serves as a Distinguished Lecturer for IEEE Communication Society & IEEE Vehicular Technology Society. Moreover, he received several awards, such as the IEEE ComSoc Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Region Outstanding Young Researcher Award, the IEEE ComSoc Signal Processing and Computing for Communications (SPCC) Technical Committee Early Achievement Award, and the IEEE Communication Theory Technical Committee (CTTC) Early Achievement Award.
