Experimental Validation of Scalable Electromagnetically-Modeled RIS Through Ray Tracing and Indoor Measurements

Abstract

This work focuses on integrating electromagnetically consistent modeling of scalable anomalous reflectors into the design and optimization of future wireless networks. A manufactured anomalous reflector sample is utilized to validate various path loss models for reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)assisted links through theoretical analysis, ray tracing simulation, and measurements. A static anomalous reflector prototype is developed for testing based on a linear periodic 'supercell' design, accounting for intrinsic losses and mutual coupling of RIS unit cells, then scaled to a medium-sized square planar array. To accurately model RIS in ray tracers, the radiation patterns are imported from electromagnetic solver simulations. The measurement results agree with ray tracing simulations and validate the developed models. The proposed models and methods of RIS-link analysis are adaptable to other RISs and compatible with different ray tracers, potentially reducing the need for massive calibration measurements.