Fluid Antenna Systems

Fluid antenna systems (FAS) is emerging as a concept of the next-generation reconfigurable antenna technology to enable flexible and adaptive wireless communications. FAS represents any software-controllable fluidic, dielectric, or conductive structures, such as mechanical liquid-based antennas, radio-frequency (RF) pixel-based antennas, movable antennas, massive arrays, flexible antenna arrays, or metasurface, etc., that can re-configure the shape, size, position, orientation, and other radiation characteristics. Unlike traditional fixed antennas, FAS offers superior spatial resolution and dynamic shape, leading to enhanced performance. Recent research indicates a connection between FAS, holographic MIMO systems, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), promising advancements from their future interactions. FAS also allows for better handling of interference in multiuser communications, introducing new multiple access opportunities. This research topic aims to explore the latest research and applications of FAS, showcasing the latest research, innovations, and practical applications of FAS, facilitating the integration of theoretical knowledge with real-world implementation.

This Research Topic addresses the unique challenges associated with FAS. It will serve as a platform for showcasing the latest research, innovations, and practical applications of FAS, thereby facilitating the integration of theoretical knowledge with real-world implementation. Specifically, it aims to investigate and address the following research problems:

To explore FAS in future wireless networks: what is the latest scientific progress of FAS's fundamental principles, design aspects, and its potential to interact with innovative technologies, like holographic MIMO and RIS.

To investigate FAS in multiuser communications: how FAS can dynamically exploit spatial opportunities, and deep fades in interference to enable innovative multiple-access strategies that improve energy efficiency and system reliability.

Case Studies and Best Practices: what are the latest findings, prototypes, and case studies of FAS applications in 6G scenarios, and what are the practical considerations and challenges of integrating FAS into wireless communication networks?

To foster cross-disciplinary collaboration: how interdisciplinary efforts can accelerate the development and adoption of FAS.

By exploring these objectives, this Research Topic can contribute to the advancement of FAS for 6G and beyond.

Themes of interest include but are not limited to:

• Physics- and electromagnetic-compliant modeling of FAS
• Electromagnetic- or information-theoretic performance limits for FAS
• Advanced optimization theories and algorithms for FAS
• Efficient channel estimation/extrapolation/reconstruction techniques in FAS
• New coding and modulation schemes based on FAS
• FAS-assisted multiple access schemes for achieving extremely massive connectivity
• AI-assisted algorithms, management, and protocols for FAS
• Enhancements in physical layer security and privacy through FAS
• Joint communication, sensing, and/or computing designs in FAS
• New reconfiguration capabilities for FAS
• Seamless integration of FAS with RIS
• Interrelation between FAS, other NGRA systems, and holographic MIMO systems
• Industrial trials, applications, and testbed results of FAS for 6G

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Reconfigurable antennas, fluid antenna systems, fluid antenna multiple access, movable antennas, 6G, next generation multiple access

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.