动态超表面天线：从可编程微波硬件到下一代无线系统
Dynamic Metasurface Antennas: From Programmable Microwave Hardware to Next-Generation Wireless Systems
- Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University（拉夫堡大学沃夫森机械、电气与制造工程学院）
机构由 AI 辅助整理，请以论文原文为准。
AI总结：
本文从微波工程视角综述动态超表面天线（DMA）技术，涵盖硬件设计、可编程波束控制及在6G通信、感知和成像中的应用，并展望其未来发展方向。
AI中文摘要：
随着无线系统向6G及更高版本演进，天线孔径日益期望变得更加可编程、多功能，并能响应多样化的通信、感知和成像需求。动态超表面天线（DMAs）通过将电可寻址的超材料元件集成到微波和毫米波（mmWave）辐射孔径中，为实现这一愿景提供了一条有前景的硬件路径。与依赖专用移相网络的传统相控阵不同，DMA通过电控谐振元件操纵微波结构中的导行波。由此，DMA提供了无移相器的波束控制、多波束辐射和可编程波前控制。本文从微波工程视角探讨了最先进的DMA技术，涵盖导行波激励、可重构谐振超材料元件、微波调谐技术、射频-数字集成以及FPGA控制的波束成形。在统一的微波硬件框架内，还讨论了紧密相关的电子控制超表面天线架构。文章回顾了近期进展，展示了导行波DMA硬件和高速电子器件如何促进可编程通信、感知、成像和时空功能。重点指出了实现宽带、可扩展和高度集成的DMA孔径的关键微波设计挑战。最后，探讨了卫星通信、近场连接、固定无线接入、波域计算和集成无线功能等新兴机遇，作为DMA技术的未来方向。本文为DMA作为下一代无线系统的可编程前端的设计、实际实现和新兴能力提供了统一的微波工程视角。
英文摘要：
As wireless systems evolve toward 6G and beyond, antenna apertures are increasingly expected to become more programmable, multifunctional, and responsive to diverse communication, sensing, and imaging requirements. Dynamic metasurface antennas (DMAs) offer a promising hardware pathway toward this vision by integrating electronically addressable metamaterial elements within microwave and millimeter-wave (mmWave) radiating apertures. Unlike conventional phased arrays relying on dedicated phase-shifting networks, DMAs manipulate guided waves in microwave structures through electronically controlled resonant elements. In this way, DMAs offer phase-shifter-less beam-steering, multibeam radiation, and programmable wavefront control. This article explores state-of-the-art DMA technology from a microwave-engineering perspective, spanning guided-wave excitation, reconfigurable resonant meta-elements, microwave tuning technologies, RF-digital integration, and FPGA-controlled beamforming. Closely related electronically steered metasurface antenna architectures are also discussed within a unified microwave-hardware framework. Recent advances illustrating how guided-wave DMA hardware and high-speed electronics facilitate programmable communication, sensing, imaging, and space-time functionalities are reviewed. Key microwave design challenges toward wideband, scalable, and highly integrated DMA apertures are highlighted. Finally, emerging opportunities in satellite communications, near-field connectivity, fixed wireless access, wave-domain computing, and integrated wireless functionalities are explored as future directions for DMA technology. This article provides a unified microwave engineering perspective on the design, practical implementation, and emerging capabilities of DMAs as programmable front-ends for next-generation wireless systems.
