Wireless communication seems easy because it happens without us noticing, but inside, devices have to carefully balance sending data quickly, keeping the signal clear, and using as little power as possible. When devices send signals through the air, the signals aren’t always perfect, and using more power to make the signals stronger costs more battery life. That’s why a new transmitter chip from MIT and a few partner universities is turning heads.
The work was led by Muriel Médard at MIT, with Timur Zirtiloglu from Boston University as the lead author. They were joined by researchers from BU, MIT, and Northeastern University, and presented it at the IEEE Radio Frequency Circuits Symposium. Support came from DARPA, the NSF, and the Texas Analog Center for Excellence.
The chip is small, flexible, and manages to send cleaner signals using far less energy than the systems we’ve relied on for years. And that makes it a strong candidate for the kinds of demands 6G will bring.
Let’s say, you’re trying to have a conversation with a friend in a noisy room. Normally, you’d raise your voice to be heard, which uses more energy and might cause the message to become distorted. Now, think of a new kind of walkie-talkie that can send clearer messages without shouting, using less battery power. This device adjusts its transmission to cut through the noise more efficiently, saving energy while still ensuring your friend hears you clearly.
Phones and Smart Speakers Don’t Use the Most Efficient Signals
Every device like a phone, watch, or smart speaker has a part that sends out radio signals. Its job is to turn the digital information (the data or “bits”) into signals that can travel through the air and be picked up by other devices. This process is called modulation. It’s like changing the signals in a way that uses specific patterns or symbols to show the data, such as ones and zeros.
Most devices use simple, consistent patterns because this makes it easier for the receiver (the device that gets the signal) to understand the message without making mistakes. This simplicity helps reduce errors. However, using these basic patterns takes more energy, which isn’t ideal for battery-powered devices.
In reality, signals can be unstable and noisy, so using more complex and adaptable patterns might save energy and handle disturbances better. The problem is that these complex patterns are harder for devices to interpret correctly, especially when there’s a lot of noise or interference, which can cause the receiver to get confused between real signals and background noise.
Confusing the Signal Can Actually Make It Easier to Read
This new chip is designed to handle complex ways of sending data that usually cause errors. Normally, these patterns are efficient but tricky, making it hard for the receiver to understand the message, especially if there is noise or interference.
To fix this, the chip adds some extra bits between the main data bits before sending. These extra bits don’t hold new information but act as markers so the receiver can tell exactly where each piece of data starts and ends. This way, even if noise distorts the signal, the receiver can more easily stay on track and avoid mistakes.
The process involves a decoding technique called GRAND, which stands for Guessing Random Additive Noise Decoding. Instead of trying to interpret the signal directly, GRAND guesses what kind of noise might have affected the message and then removes that noise. By also guessing the extra bits they added, the system can better reconstruct the original message without errors.
With this approach, the chip can use those efficient but complicated patterns without running into as many error problems.
This reminds me of a technique that we used to employ during our classrooms in school. To make sure my friend understands my message which I sent on a piece of paper, I used to insert a few small harmless blinks or pauses between each part of the message. Although these weren’t part of the original message but helped my friend know exactly when one word ends and the next begins. It was like our secret code message.
Now, instead of trying to read the message directly, my friend used to guess what kind of noise or distraction might be happening and then remove it, even if parts of the message are jumbled. This way, we both communicate smoothly without others knowing what we want to convey to each other.
Small, Flexible, and Ready for 6G
Coming back to MIT chips, the tech has been tested and shown to work better than previous methods. Specifically, it makes fewer mistakes when sending information, about 75% less error than other efficient ways. It’s even more precise than older.
Because it makes fewer errors, the device doesn’t have to repeat sending information as often, this saves energy. For example, a phone that lasts longer on a single charge, or a sensor in a factory that runs for months without a battery change.
The chip is small and bendable, so it can easily fit into many different devices. These include smart thermostats (which control room temperatures), fitness trackers (like bracelets that track your health), industrial sensors (which check things like temperature or pressure all the time), and appliances that can send you messages if something’s wrong. When the next generation of wireless technology called 6G comes out, these chips could help devices work better with less power, which means, they won’t need large batteries or to be charged all the time.
Takeaway
As mentioned, these new chips are designed to work well with future 6G and other advanced wireless networks, which means, the future looks promising. They can help devices communicate more clearly and use less energy. This means they can be used in many things, like health monitors and city systems that are connected together. Using less energy also helps protect the environment by reducing waste from old electronics. Instead of just making devices more powerful, these chips make communication smarter and more efficient. This could change how devices connect and work in everyday life.
Thinking on these lines, the team says they are not just finishing their current work, they are already trying to make their system work better and make fewer mistakes. Experts like Rocco Tam from NXP Semiconductors are noticing this because their method aligns well with upcoming wireless technologies such as 6G and next-generation Wi-Fi. This shows that improving technology isn’t always about increasing strength or power, but about sending clearer and more efficient signals from the start.
