Third-Place Prize at IEEE SusTech 2023 Student Poster Contest
Published:
It was truly an honor to be awarded third-place prize at the prestigious 10th IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (IEEE SusTech 2023) Student Poster Contest, held in Portland, USA on April 19, 2023. This recognition celebrates my research on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS)-Assisted Visible Light Communication for Outdoor Applications.
About the Award
The award was officially announced on April 27, 2023, and you can read more details in the IEEE SusTech 2023 Student Poster Contest Winners announcement. This recognition acknowledges my contributions to sustainable technologies through innovative research in outdoor visible light communication utilizing Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS).
Conference Website: IEEE SusTech 2023
Research Overview
As a PhD student at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), I’ve been exploring advancements in outdoor visible light communication. My research presents a novel approach to address critical challenges that have long limited the deployment of VLC systems in outdoor environments.
Innovation in Visible Light Communication
My research tackles critical challenges in outdoor visible light communications (VLC) systems. These include Line-of-Sight (LOS) link blockage, where traditional VLC systems require direct optical links between transmitter and receiver, which can be disrupted by obstacles and user mobility. Additionally, transmitter and receiver misalignment presents a challenge, as dynamic outdoor environments complicate maintaining precise alignment between communication endpoints. Finally, user mobility in outdoor scenarios creates additional difficulties for sustaining stable optical links.
RIS-Assisted Solution
Through my research, I explore how Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) can be leveraged in VLC systems to significantly enhance communication reliability and performance. RIS technology is particularly intriguing because it offers passive, software-controlled reflective surfaces that can dynamically adjust the path of optical signals, essentially creating alternative communication pathways around obstacles and overcoming misalignment issues.
Applications and Impact
What excites me most about this research is its practical potential. The RIS-assisted VLC approach I’ve explored enables robust communication in diverse real-world scenarios:
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Networks: Enabling high-altitude communication for surveillance and data collection without interference
- Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communications: Supporting autonomous vehicles and intelligent transportation systems
- Streetlight-Based Communication Systems: Repurposing urban infrastructure to provide wireless connectivity
- Outdoor-to-Indoor Communications: Bridging the gap between outdoor and indoor networks
I imagine these applications transforming how we think about optical wireless technologies in urban and rural settings alike.
Key Findings
My simulation results reveal a significant discovery: optimizing RIS arrays can dramatically improve system performance. Specifically, my findings demonstrate:
- Reduced Link Outage Ratio: Substantial improvement in communication link reliability, which is a critical metric for practical deployments
- Enhanced Coverage: Extended communication range in outdoor environments, making VLC viable in more scenarios
- Improved Robustness: Better performance under challenging propagation conditions that would otherwise disrupt traditional VLC systems
These results excite me because they suggest new possibilities for outdoor VLC applications, from smart cities to emergency communications, and demonstrate that RIS-assisted approaches could help overcome the long-standing reliability challenges that have limited optical wireless technologies.
Presentation Poster
My research was aslo presented at the conference using an interactive poster format. View the full poster:
Download: RIS-Assisted Visible Light Communication Poster (PDF)
Presentation Video
Watch my presentation video showcasing the research findings and demonstration:
Publication
This award-winning research was subsequently published as a peer-reviewed paper:
View Paper on IEEE Xplore: “RIS-Assisted Visible Light Communication for Outdoor Applications”
Significance and Broader Impact
This recognition at IEEE SusTech 2023 is particularly meaningful to me because it validates my belief that emerging technologies like RIS can address real, practical challenges in optical wireless communications, especially in outdoor environments where reliability has always been the Achilles’ heel. By combining RIS with VLC, I’m contributing to the broader goal of improving wireless communication efficiency while advancing global sustainability objectives.
What makes me proud about this work is how it demonstrates that interdisciplinary innovation—bringing together optical communications, intelligent surfaces, and sustainability, can open new possibilities for the future.
IEEE SusTech Conference
The IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (SusTech) is a premier venue for research on emerging technologies that advance sustainability. The conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders to discuss innovations in technology-enabled sustainability solutions.
Award Announcement: IEEE SusTech 2023 Student Poster Contest Winners