Embracing Reconfigurable Antennas in the Tri-hybrid MIMO Architecture for 6G

Miguel R. Castellanos, Siyun Yang, Chan-Byoung Chae, Robert W. Heath Jr.

Abstract: Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication has led to immense enhancements in data rates and efficient spectrum management. The evolution of MIMO, though, has been accompanied by increased hardware complexity and array sizes, causing the system power consumption to increase. Despite past advances in power-efficient hybrid architectures, new solutions are needed to enable extremely large-scale MIMO deployments for 6G and beyond. In this paper, we introduce a novel architecture that integrates low-power reconfigurable antennas with both digital and analog precoding. This \emph{tri-hybrid} approach addresses key limitations in traditional and hybrid MIMO systems by improving power consumption and adds a new layer for signal processing. We provide an analysis of the proposed architecture and compare its performance with existing solutions, including fully-digital and hybrid MIMO systems. The results demonstrate significant improvements in energy efficiency, highlighting the potential of the tri-hybrid system to meet the growing demands of future wireless networks. We conclude the paper with a summary of design and implementation challenges, including the need for technological advancements in reconfigurable array hardware and tunable antenna parameters.