UC San Diego Develops 3D-Printed Tiles for Millimeter-Wave Communication

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed 3D-printed reflective tiles that enhance millimeter-wave wireless communication by reflecting signals in precise ways. The tiles, made of plastic with a conductive paint layer, cost about $2 each and require no power or control. They are designed to work with existing millimeter-wave protocols and can be easily adhered to walls or ceilings.

The team, led by Professor Xinyu Zhang, created two types of tiles: those that route large data streams and those that spread signals to user areas. Their system, called FlowForm, uses a hierarchical design inspired by river tributaries. Major flows act as relay chains, while minor flows provide wide-area coverage. This approach ensures robust signal distribution around obstacles and through complex indoor environments.

The researchers demonstrated that their passive system performs as well as or better than active reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), which are typically more expensive and complex. The tiles were tested in five different indoor environments, with site-specific tile arrangements to maximize coverage and redundancy. No modifications to existing network infrastructure or protocols were required.