Next Generation of Wireless Sensing and Communication Systems
Date: Tue, April 15, 2025
Time: 10:30am - 11:30am
Location: Holmes Hall 389; online available, check your email or contact us
Speaker: Shichen Zhang, Michigan State University
Abstract
Wireless signals form the backbone of today’s digital smart world, seamlessly connecting a vast ecosystem of IoT devices and enabling ubiquitous connectivity. Beyond their primary role in data transmission, these signals inherently carry rich physical-world information that can be harnessed for sensing, opening the door to the emerging field of wireless sensing. Acting as a novel sensing modality, wireless sensing provides a “sixth sense” of the environment with privacy-preserving, contactless, and ubiquitous solutions for advanced applications. In this talk, I will share my research on enabling innovative wireless sensing applications using diverse RF signals, leveraging advanced signal processing algorithms, cutting-edge hardware designs, and state-of-the-art AI models. Key examples include detecting handwriting through walls using 6 GHz FMCW radar, identifying drivers' phone use violations with cellular signals, and enabling gesture-based authentication for IoT devices using Wi-Fi signals. Furthermore, I will discuss learning-based beamforming techniques for designing efficient mmWave communication systems. Finally, I will outline my vision for integrating sensing and communication into unified systems, paving the way for next-generation intelligent and connected technologies.
Bio
Shichen Zhang is a Ph.D. candidate in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at Michigan State University. His research focuses on designing wireless sensing and communication systems by developing novel signal processing algorithms, integrating hardware design, and leveraging tailored AI models. His work has been published in top conferences such as NDSS, CHI, INFOCOM, MobiCom, SenSys, and MobiHoc, as well as leading journals like JSAC, TWC, and IoT-J. His latest research was recognized with an Honorable Mention award at CHI 2025.