Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface-Assisted Space Shift Keying

Abstract: The concept of reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted transmission, where phases of reflected signals are adjusted in an effective arrangement, has been recently put forward as a promising solution for 6G and beyond networks. Considering this and the undeniable potential of index modulation (IM) techniques, an RIS-based space shift keying (SSK) scheme is proposed in this letter to maintain all inherent advantages of both RISs and SSK. Specifically, a mathematical framework is presented by using a maximum likelihood (ML) detector for the calculation of the average bit error rate (ABER). Extensive computer simulation results are provided to assess the potential of the proposed RIS-based SSK system and to verify the theoretical derivations. The obtained results indicate that the proposed scheme enables highly reliable transmission with unconventionally high energy efficiency, however with the added cost of increased receiver complexity.