Researchers from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have developed a groundbreaking anti-interference communication method that leverages computational antennas, offering a robust solution for secure military communications and radar detection. The team, led by Xiaocun Zong, Fan Yang, Shenheng Xu, and Maokun Li, has introduced a novel approach that combines time averaging and 1-bit reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) to achieve resilient signal modulation with minimal hardware complexity.
The researchers have established a communication model specifically designed for computational antennas, which are capable of dynamically shaping electromagnetic waves to enhance signal quality and mitigate interference. By integrating RIS—surfaces that can intelligently reflect and manipulate radio waves—they have created a system that adapts in real time to challenging environments. This innovation is particularly significant in military applications, where communication systems must operate reliably under extreme conditions, including strong jamming signals.
The team developed an efficient signal processing algorithm optimized for temporal modulation, a technique that adjusts signal transmission over time to counteract interference. To validate their approach, they built a USRP-based experimental platform, which allowed them to test the system under harsh interference conditions, such as a 5 dB jamming-to-signal ratio. The results were striking: the method achieved up to an 80.9% reduction in bit error rate (BER), demonstrating its effectiveness in restoring distorted signals and maintaining communication integrity.
Unlike conventional anti-interference techniques such as spread spectrum or frequency hopping, which require significant spectral resources, this method offers superior performance without additional spectral overhead. Spread spectrum, for example, spreads signals across a wide frequency range to reduce interference, but this approach consumes more bandwidth. Similarly, frequency hopping switches frequencies rapidly to avoid jamming, but it also demands substantial bandwidth and coordination. The new method, however, achieves robust anti-interference capabilities without these limitations, making it a more efficient and scalable solution.
The implications of this research extend beyond military communications. The technology could also enhance radar detection systems, which rely on precise signal processing to identify and track targets in cluttered or contested environments. Additionally, it offers promising applications for next-generation wireless networks, where interference management is critical for maintaining reliable connectivity.
By providing a method that reduces hardware complexity while improving performance, this research could reshape the future of secure communications. As military and civilian systems increasingly face sophisticated threats, innovations like this will be essential in ensuring resilient and effective operations. The team’s work not only advances the field of computational electromagnetics but also sets a new standard for anti-interference communication in defence and beyond. Read the original research paper here.