Current Research Projects
'Scalable Hybrid Architecture for Wireless Collaborative Federated Learning (SHAFT)', April 2023- March 2026, Principal Investigator
Unlike previous generations of mobile networks, the beyond 5G (B5G) network is envisioned to support edge intelligence, which is to provide both communication and computing capabilities to the proximity of end users. Wireless edge intelligence is particularly important to those crucial use cases of B5G, including smart cities, autonomous driving, wireless healthcare, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) gaming, where mobile networks are expected to be equipped with intelligent capabilities for prediction and shaping experiences to individuals. Federated learning (FL) is a key enabling technology for wireless edge intelligence, by performing the model training in a decentralized manner and keeping the data where it is generated. However, a straightforward adaption of FL from computer networks to wireless systems can suffer performance degradation in spectral and implementation efficiency, because of the complex wireless environment with heterogeneous resources and a massive number of devices. The aim of this project is to develop a novel scalable hybrid architecture for wireless FL by efficiently utilising the physical layer dynamics of the mobile communication environments and exploiting sophisticated service-aware and resource-aware collaborative edge learning. The novelty of the project is the development of this novel edge learning architecture, where the fundamental limits of the learning architecture is characterised by advanced mathematical tools, such as graph theory and stochastic learning. In addition, an algorithmic framework for quantifying challenging design trade-offs in the presence of practical constraints by applying sophisticated tools such as compressed sensing and machine learning.
'Smart Solutions Towards Cellular-Connected Unmanned Aerial Vehicles System (AUTONOMY)', August 2022- July 2025, Principal Investigator
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with low cost and high mobility are recognised as an emerging technology that will lead to significant economic growth and broad societal benefits, which are also essential to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., via medical supplies delivery or disinfectants spray). The market growth for the commercial UAVs industry is expected to skyrocket to 45.8 billion dollars in 2025 from 19.3 billion dollars in 2020, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.5% from 2019 to 2025. UAVs are of paramount importance for numerous civilian applications in diverse fields, including aerial inspection, precision agriculture, photography, package delivery, traffic control, search and rescue, and telecommunications. Nevertheless, the above benefits can only be reaped with advanced wireless communication tech-niques, intelligent sensing and networking operations, and joint communication and control designs that can support safe UAV operations, mission-specific rate-demanding pay-load communications, and efficient multi-UAVs cooperation. Conven-tional UAVs relying on the short-range communication technologies (e.g., WiFi) with the low data rate are unfortunately insufficient or even inapplicable to support beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) communications with wide-area connectivity. These limitations have motivated academia and industry to explore the use of cellular networks in 5G-and-Beyond in providing ultra-reliable low-latency control, ubiquitous cover-age, and seamless swarm connectivity under complex and highly flexible multi-UAV behaviours in three-dimensions (3D), to unlock the full potential of UAVs. This so-called cellular-connected UAVs (C-UAVs) System creates a radically different and rapidly evolving networking and control environment. This project aims to be the first to develop and implement full network automation and conditional control automation (on condition of high trust) for C-UAVs system in simulator and prototype.
'Platform Driving The Ultimate Connectivity (TITAN)', April 2023- March 2026, Principal Investigator (QMUL)
The research of the TITAN platform is geared towards the ultimate network of networks and is structured in six strongly interconnected lighthouse projects which reflect all network elements - 1) the core, 2) optical fibre, 3) radio frequency (RF) including cellular and wireless networks, 4) emerging optical wireless networks for access and backhaul, 5) non-terrestrial networks involving satellites, aerial and underwater networks, and finally 6) quantum communication networks.
The research on the core network focuses on a new architecture and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques that enable the integration of multi-access technologies for a seamless end-to-end service delivery by considering advanced requirements in terms of data rate, latency, security and energy efficiency. TITAN will conduct novel research that aims at orchestrating the different existing and emerging RF networks (3G, 4G, 5G, 6G, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.) towards a single network by developing techniques that would optimally select the respective RF network, or networks, and develop the respective protocols to enable a seamless end-to-end connection. Because of the undisputed need for new spectrum in future networks, TITAN will crucially include new networks that are built around the terahertz and optical spectrum. Since these networks will benefit from new intelligent reflecting surfaces as part of a new network element, TITAN will include research on the networking aspects and the integration of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) by building on the work on AI and machine learning (ML) developed for other parts of the network, such as edge and core. Optical fibre networks are an important element of a network of networks. Therefore, TITAN will address research questions on the optimum integration of advanced optical fibre technologies such as hollowcore fibres and new agile transceiver technologies to support key network requirements such as latency. Universal service availability and what is described as the 'digital divide' represent an increasing societal challenge. Therefore, TITAN will conduct critical research on the integration of non-terrestrial networks which include aerial, satellite and underwater networks all geared towards a seamless end-to-end service provision which is achieved by the holistic approach of TITAN. Lastly, TITAN will meaningfully integrate new quantum network technologies alongside conventional networks and will provide important guidance on the optimum use of both fundamental networks. An important consideration of TITAN is the extraction of sensing information from networks. All network elements have particular features and, in conjunction with ML techniques, important side information can be extracted. TITAN will investigate this capability for each network segment, but crucially brings the independent sensing information together to achieve an ultra-cognitive network which exhibits the highest level of self-x (configuration, healing, automation, optimisation).
'Digital Transformation of Electromagnetic Material Design and Manufacturing for Future Wireless Connectivity (DREAM)', April 2023- March 2028, Co-Investigator
BEIS recently launched the Innovation Strategy, which the Government will establish 'innovation missions' seeking to address global and UK challenges through innovation. The Government wants to focus on exploiting seven technology areas where the UK has global competitive strengths. The proposed research covers four out of seven areas including: Advanced materials and manufacturing; AI, digital and advanced computing; electronics, photonics, and quantum; and robotics and smart machines. Together with QinetiQ, QMUL have developed a radically broad but new concept as "software defined materials (SDMs)", for which properties can be modified by simply uploading and updating computer software. The impact of SDMs is huge and it leads to tight integration of sensing, actuation, and computation that biological systems exhibit to achieve shape and appearance changes, and tactile sensing at very high dynamic range (like birds in flight). The vision of DREAM Partnership is therefore to unlock fundamental research opportunities promised by SDMs through digital transformation which are centered on design and manufacturing of novel electromagnetic materials for the automation and reconfigurability of future wireless systems.
Recently Completed Research Projects
Principal Investigator, ‘Communications Signal Processing Based Solutions for Massive Machine-to-Machine Networks (M3NETs)’ March 2018 – February 2022
Principal Investigator, ‘Enabling High-Speed Microwave and Millimetre Wave Links (MiMiWaveS)’ September 2016 – August 2019
Principal Investigator, ‘Simultaneously Wireless InFormation and energy Transfer (SWIFT)’ February 2016 – January 2019
Principal Investigator, ‘Massive MIMO Wireless Networks: Theory and Methods’ May 2015 – October 2018
Co-Investigator, ‘Scalable Full Duplex Dense Wireless Networks (SENSE)’ November 2016-October 2019
Co-Investigator, ‘Sensing and Security for Smart IoT’ UKIERI with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, March 2018-March 2020