Movable and reconfigurable antennas for 6G: unlocking electromagnetic-domain design and optimization

npj Wireless Technology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Lipeng Zhu, Haobin Mao, Ge Yan, Wenyan Ma, Zhenyu Xiao, Rui Zhang
DOI: 10.1038/s44459-025-00017-8
Cited by: 6
References: 72

Abstract

Abstract The growing demands of 6G mobile communication networks necessitate advanced antenna technologies. Movable antennas (MAs) and reconfigurable antennas (RAs) enable dynamic control over antenna’s position, orientation, radiation, polarization, and frequency response, introducing rich electromagnetic-domain degrees of freedom for the design and performance enhancement of wireless systems. This article overviews their application scenarios, hardware architectures, and design methods. Field test and simulation results highlight their performance benefits over conventional fixed/non-reconfigurable antennas.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Antenna Design and Analysis Antenna Design and Optimization Advanced Antenna and Metasurface Technologies

Publication details

Journal / source
npj Wireless Technology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
2
Issue
1
Publication date
2 February 2026
Language
EN