Breakthrough shows NI “firmly on the global map” for tech inventions and innovation, says Dr Usman Madi
Yunis Daha, PhD Researcher; Dr Usman Hadi, PhD Supervisor; and Professor Dewar Finlay, Head of the School of Engineering at Ulster University(Image: UU)
A breakthrough in artificial intelligence made by researchers in Northern Ireland could help open the door to holographic technology, advanced robotics in healthcare, and autonomous vehicles.
That is according to an Ulster University expert who said this week that Northern Ireland is “firmly on the global map” when it comes to cutting-edge research into artificial intelligence and wireless technology.
Dr Usman Madi, a PhD superviser at the university, sat down with Belfast Live to discuss the possibilities that could be opened up when the next generation of wireless communications – known as 6G – rolls out. While still under development in labs around the world, the eventual roll-out of 6G could be made possible – at least in part – by a breakthrough unveiled at Ulster University that involves the use of ‘deep learning’ to cut down on massive computation requirements.
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While the roll-out of 5G is still underway – and beset in Northern Ireland by problems with the vandalism of signal towers – the next generation of wireless communication aims to take things a step further than the already impressive speeds offered by 5G with even more massive bandwidth and lower latency communications.
Dr Madi said that while some people may fail to see the need for the huge increase in speed, there are technologies in development today that are reliant on overcoming the limitations in place with 5G.
“6G will be transformative,” he said. “It promises ultra-reliable, ultra-fast, and ultra-low-latency networks – essential for technologies like autonomous vehicles, advanced robotics in healthcare, immersive digital environments, and smart cities. Importantly, it also aims to be more sustainable, reducing the energy footprint of the vast data demands of our future. In short, 6G won’t ‘just’ make the internet faster – it will enable entirely new industries and ways of living.”
Drone stock image (Image: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
One such technology suggested by the expert is the potential use of what he described as “real time digital twins” that would involve a two-way flow of vast amounts of data. They could be used, for example, in a hospital setting to create an accurate computer generated virtual model that replicates a human heart.
The use of “remote healthcare” could then allow a surgeon to perform an operation using robotics from a remote location across a 6G network, informed by the computer model.
But such a feat would require an ultra-reliable, ultra-high speed network connection to be feasible – something that could be offered if the hurdles facing 6G can be overcome.
The latest innovation – dubbed MIMONet – is the work of Ulster University PhD researcher Yunis Daha in the School of Engineering, supervised by Dr Hadi, and could be one step towards that type of technology. Published in the journal Telecom, the research tackles one of the most urgent challenges in global wireless communication: how to detect and process signals accurately and efficiently when millions of devices are connected simultaneously.
At the heart of 6G are massive multiple-input multiple-output (ma-MIMO) systems. Traditional methods for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detection either struggle to deliver accuracy or require enormous computational power, potentially requiring cooling solutions and consuming huge amounts of energy that make them impractical for widespread roll-out.
The new MIMONet technology from Ulster University appears to overcome this problem by applying a lightweight deep learning architecture that can ‘learn’ to separate and detect signals even under the most complex and noisy conditions. In simple terms, this means networks that are faster, more reliable and less power-hungry in terms of hardware or energy.
Dr Madi said the research is just one example of Northern Ireland’s ability to produce “technological inventions” despite our smaller scale compared to other parts of the world.
“I think NI is firmly on the global map for innovation in AI and wireless communication and AI in general,” he said. “We have the trained manpower to do that stuff and to do the technological inventions. One example is what we did with 6G.
“Northern Ireland, if you compare it with the other parts of the world, it’s – scale wise – not very huge. But innovation wise, invention wise, you see that we are developing the next generation of communication which is excellent, looking at the landscape of what the world requires now.”
Dr Madi continued: “I myself have worked in many different countries. I was in the US. I was in Italy for many, many years. Then I went to Denmark. And then I came to Northern Ireland, to the UK, to work here and the reason for coming here was that there’s inclusivity and then also there is a great, you know, great innovation.”
On the new technology unveiled earlier this week by the university, he said: “6G is integrating artificial intelligence at the core, which means that the basic skeleton of 6G is integrated around artificial intelligence that will support a number of connected devices. Imagine drones, un-managed vehicles, IOT [internet of things] devices, autonomous systems, remote healthcare, for example, is a very important part of that.”
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Asked for his thoughts on the recent burning down of 5G masts, Dr Madi said: “We all are aware about the burning of the 5G masts and all that stuff, but, we are the tech guys and we’re looking at the technological innovation, you know. Obviously it’s something that is deep down that needs, you know, discussions and policies and politics. But for the innovation side – because we are the inventors and researchers – we need to stay ahead of the curve. If someone is burning 5G masts, we can’t really shut down developing technologies, you know.”
Yunis Daha, a PhD researcher at Ulster University behind the recent MIMONet breakthrough, said: “We’re tackling a fundamental bottleneck in wireless communication. By applying AI to one of the toughest engineering challenges, we’ve developed a system that improves accuracy while easing the processing load. That’s essential as the world moves towards 6G and billions of connected devices.”
Professor Dewar Finlay, Head of the School of Engineering at Ulster University, added: “Research is the cornerstone of innovation, and this breakthrough in AI is a perfect example of how academic institutions can drive progress in critical areas. Our researchers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in communication technologies. This work is a major step forward in realising the 6G networks of the future – networks that will be smarter, faster, and more sustainable. At Ulster University, we are committed to delivering pioneering solutions that address global challenges and help shape the future of technology.”
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