Unlock Self-Sustainability of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface in Wireless Powered IoT Networks

This article discusses the self-sustainability of reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) in wireless powered Internet of Things (IoT) networks. Our vision is that RIS helps improve energy harvesting and data transmission capabilities simultaneously, without the extra utilization of RF spectrum and energy consumption. The inherent properties of RIS are first discussed to unveil its distinctive features, followed by a broader range of use cases motivated by RIS as their enabling technology. The focus is on the application of RIS in the wireless powered IoT networks, and its potential to interconnect and support these practical use cases. Such an application is then thoroughly evaluated in a case study of an RIS-assisted wireless powered sensor network, with system throughput, energy transmission time consumption, and energy harvesting as the key performance metrics. The comprehensive performance evaluation showcases the self-sustainable property of RIS being unlocked in the considered scenario, identifying a clear pathway toward the future wireless powered IoT networks. We further pave the way by exploring research challenges and open issues related to emerging technological development.