Project Grant 2312715

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) was awarded a $600,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Computer and Network Systems under the CFDA 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering program. The objective of this 4-year research project is to develop scalable metasurface array technologies for expanding millimeter-wave (mmWave) communication and sensing capabilities. Specifically, the research team will design new beam synthesis models and reconfiguration techniques to increase the angular coverage, beamforming gain, and interference mitigation for mmWave networks. The project will also leverage the metasurface array as a passive encoder to address tradeoffs in mmWave sensing resolution and coverage. Additionally, the researchers will explore graphene-based metasurface structures to enhance the joint communication and sensing performance beyond traditional RF hardware limitations. The project outcomes are expected to inform mmWave network design, influence 5G/beyond-5G standardization, and advance applications in vehicular networking and automotive sensing. The award includes plans to engage diverse student researchers and industry partners, as well as provide open-source experimental hardware and fabrication workflows to the community.