RIS-Assisted Beam Tracking for Low-Altitude Economy Networking: Enabling Technologies and Applications

Communication disruptions caused by non-line-of-sight (NLoS) blockages in complex urban environments severely degrade the reliability and real-time performance of wireless links. Low-altitude uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) communication systems still face challenges such as motion tracking and energy efficiency trade-offs. This paper systematically investigates Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS)-assisted beam tracking techniques to enhance the stability of dynamic communication links. First, the fundamental principles of RIS-assisted beam tracking are elaborated, focusing on the coordination mechanism between incident and outgoing beams. Then, three deployment schemes are introduced, and their potential applications are analyzed in scenarios including smart cities, infrastructure inspection, and emergency communications. Furthermore, a joint optimization framework that integrates RIS phase shift design, UAV relay positioning, and beam optimization is proposed as a case study to achieve reliable and high-efficiency communication in urban NLoS environments. Simulation results demonstrate that joint optimization of the RIS phase configuration and UAV trajectory significantly enhances the communication rate and robustness of the dynamic link. Finally, potential research directions for RIS-assisted UAV communication systems are discussed.