Reconfigurable intelligent surface: Design the channel – A new opportunity for future wireless networks

Abstract In this paper, we survey state-of-the-art research outcomes in the burgeoning field of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) given its potential for significant performance enhancement of next-generation wireless communication networks by means of adapting a propagation environment. Emphasis has been placed on several aspects gating the commercially viability of a future network deployment. Comprehensive summaries are provided for practical hardware design considerations and broad implications of artificial intelligence techniques, as are in-depth outlooks on the salient aspects of system models, use cases, and physical layer optimization techniques.