Application and future direction of RIS

One of the key challenges that network operators are facing is controlling the propagation environment. Secondly, the complex propagation environment poses channel estimation computational burden on the transceiver. Consequently, complex and costly transceivers are required. Hence, to address the challenges, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has been proposed to control the propagation environment and lessen the additional cost on the communication network. In this chapter, the basic functions of RIS including analysis of RIS operation are presented. Apart from RIS-assisted communication scenarios that have been extensively discussed in the existing literature studies, the application of RIS in sensing, imaging, healthcare, indoor localization, etc., have been thoroughly discussed, thus paving the direction for the research community to use the RIS in these areas as well.