Prof Bogdan Staszewski from UCDs IoE2 Lab looks at the future of global communications, from faster networks and more powerful computing to the challenges of energy and cybersecurity.
I am an engineer and an engineers job is to design new solutions for building and making things. Engineers concern ourselves with what goes on below the surface, with the building blocks that make up the world in which we live and work, which is constantly evolving.
As electrical and electronics engineers, my colleagues and I work in a microscopic world of integrated circuits the hardware at the deepest level of the networks with which we interact every day and on which we have come to rely.
From global communications to the movement of money, we rely on the fast and secure transmission of quintillions of bits of data every day
Life today revolves around these networks. From global communications to the movement of money, we rely on the fast and secure transmission of quintillions of bits of data every day. And as technological and economic progress is made, there are ever more demands for capacity in these networks, and for ever greater speed, efficiency and security.
The possibilities created by increased connectedness has led to simple but profound challenges. In network terms, how to send the greatest amount of data in the shortest time while reducing the power requirement and cost, is chief among them.
Internet of things (IoT) networks are helping to address major societal challenges. Water regulation in agriculture in drought regions such as California, and dyke and canal infrastructure management in the Netherlands are just two examples. The systems underpinned by networks of sensors and microprocessors, capable of wireless connectivity and energy scavenging have vastly improved efficiency and delivered numerous benefits.
We are looking to even more advanced applications of these technologies, such as autonomously driven vehicles and robotic surgery. We are designing technology that could either completely replace humans or watch and take over when the driver or surgeon gets too tired or distracted.
We are envisaging vehicles that can communicate among themselves and a traffic coordinator to ensure smooth traffic flow with no need for traffic lights. We are preparing for autonomous operating rooms where robotic surgeons can be directed remotely by human surgeons in another country.
This is technology that could deliver superior and safer performance than error-prone human operation, but which is entirely dependent on unimpeachable network speed, efficiency and security that has not yet been achieved.
It is predicted that connected autonomously driven vehicles will eliminate traffic and accidents. We can imagine insurance premiums going down substantially. Of course, we can also imagine an utter disaster if a hacker was able to sneak into these networks, or if an uplink failed at the wrong moment while crucial information was being transmitted.
Hence, the network must be super fast, super secure and have enough bandwidth.
The view from the core of this technology offers a unique perspective on these challenges. Like physicists and geneticists, electrical and electronics engineers look for answers in ever smaller parts inside our networks.
Energy supply and consumption is at the heart of big societal challenges and so too is it one of the most critical considerations for IoT applications. My colleagues and I in the IoE2 Lab at University College Dublin are currently tackling this problem using the latest nanoscale CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technologies, in pursuit of a common ultra-low-power system-on-chip hardware platform.
This means an integrated computer and electronics system containing a CPU, memory, and digital, analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency signal processing functions all on one microchip.
Prof Bogdan Staszewski. Image: UCD
As an aside, theres a lot of interest in radio frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) research now because it offers a huge cost benefit for system-on-chip solutions and this will only grow along with the pervasiveness of wireless capabilities in electronics.
Success in this research knows no pinnacle, it is just constantly evolving. We started with 1G and 2G wireless communication. Then came 3G and 4G. Nowadays the carriers are installing 5G networks, but researchers are working on 6G even though there is no agreement about what it will be. Thats the journey that makes us all excited.
The focus will remain on reducing power consumption and increasing performance, so that we can move towards IoT network applications that can perform more and more complex tasks. Power and capacity are key.
The need to economise power consumption is well understood, for a variety of practical, environmental and socio-economic reasons. Data, however, is a less familiar commodity in our world, in spite of the volume we generate on a daily basis, almost universally. And IoT is also greatly accelerating the demands for bandwidth in our networks, which in turn creates issues around equality of access and the enabling of future technology.
At IoE2, were looking at the problem of so many wireless devices coexisting in extremely congested networks, and the solution is cooperative wireless.
Like physicists and geneticists, electrical and electronics engineers look for answers in ever smaller parts inside our networks
Cooperative networks are at the foundation of IoT. At the system level, this means algorithms, components and software needed to make them energy and bandwidth-efficient. But at the physical layer beneath, we need hugely flexible nodes that can operate in an intelligent and cooperative manner.
To put this in context, a single ant cannot possibly do anything useful but the whole colony of ants are physically able to lift an elephant if they work in collaboration. Even a simple IoT node can do wonders if connected to a large network.
For instance, Swarms constellation of nanosatellites has helped harness the potential of IoT networks and their thousands of devices and billions of bits of data. Each nanosatellite is small and rather dumb but, in collaboration with others, they can execute quite sophisticated tasks and at a fraction of the cost of existing networks linked to broadband internet satellites.
Of course, enhancing capacity and enabling technology also requires enhanced security, especially as our networks become capable of storing more and more data.
We have found ways to increase security at the sub-system level, by creating tamper-proof ROM (read-only memory) and microchips that cannot be reverse engineered. We make increasingly sophisticated chips and memory that are perfected to be error-free and operable throughout their lifetime without updates or patches.
But the journey to advance and secure our networks has passed beyond the world of microelectronics, into the quantum world a world of the sub-atomically small. It would be fair to say this is the next real game-changer for ICT and will even surpass the invention of the integrated circuit itself.
While quantum computing will probably remain aloof from most people, the technology arising from its development will have major implications for society and for the evolution of communications and future networks.
The eventual growing use of quantum computing will render normal encryption virtually useless, creating the need for a global rewrite of our networks security
In simple terms, by exploiting quantum mechanics, a quantum computer takes mere seconds or minutes to crack an algorithm that classical computers would take lifetimes to crack. The power of this technology is transformational. It underpins the only form of communication that is provably unhackable and uninterceptable, heralding a new age of data security.
However, the development of quantum technologies will drive quantum communication and destabilise traditional networks. While only the military and proverbial Swiss banks have the need of these super secure communications for now, the eventual growing use of quantum computing will render normal encryption virtually useless, creating the need for a global rewrite of our networks security.
This technology is only a few years away. And even though the major hype of research remains on quantum computing rather than its application in other fields such as communications, its arrival will profoundly change the world as we know it.
Until then, all the possibilities of our future networks will rely on us building upon current technologies to make the communication pipe bigger and cheaper making our networks better, faster, with less power.
By Prof Bogdan Staszewski
Prof Bogdan Staszewski is a professor of electronic circuits at the UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. He is part of the IoE2 Lab within the UCD Centre for Internet of Things Engineering and co-founder of Equal1 Labs, conducting research to build the worlds first practical single-chip CMOS quantum computer.
View post:
Faster, better, stronger: The next stage of global communications networks - Siliconrepublic.com
- The Quantum Computer Revolution Is Closer Than You May Think - National Review - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Time Crystals Could be the Key to the First Quantum Computer - TrendinTech - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- quantum computing - WIRED UK - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Chinese scientists build world's first quantum computing machine - India Today - May 3rd, 2017 [May 3rd, 2017]
- Here's How We Can Achieve Mass-Produced Quantum Computers - ScienceAlert - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- D-Wave partners with U of T to move quantum computing along - Financial Post - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Team develops first blockchain that can't be hacked by quantum computer - Siliconrepublic.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Telstra just wants a quantum computer to offer as-a-service - ZDNet - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Research collaborative pursues advanced quantum computing - Phys.Org - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Market Forecast 2017-2022 | Market ... - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Is Real, and D-Wave Just Open ... - WIRED - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- FinDEVr London: Preparing for the Dark Side of Quantum Computing - GlobeNewswire (press release) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Purdue, Microsoft to Collaborate on Quantum Computer - Photonics.com - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Scientists May Have Found a Way to Combat Quantum Computer Blockchain Hacking - Futurism - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Microsoft and Purdue work on scalable topological quantum computer - Next Big Future - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- HYPRES Expands Efforts in Quantum Computing with Launch of European Subsidiary SeeQC - Business Wire (press release) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- From the Abacus to Supercomputers to Quantum Computers - Duke Today - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Accenture, Biogen, 1QBit Launch Quantum Computing App to ... - HIT Consultant - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- The US and China "Quantum Computing Arms Race" Will Change Long-Held Dynamics in Commerce, Intelligence ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing Technologies markets will reach $10.7 billion by 2024 - PR Newswire (press release) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- A Hybrid of Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Is Spawning New Ventures - IEEE Spectrum - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- KPN CISO details Quantum computing attack dangers - Mobile World Live - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Get ahead in quantum computing AND attract Goldman Sachs - eFinancialCareers - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Accenture, 1QBit partner for drug discovery through quantum ... - ZDNet - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Toward optical quantum computing - MIT News - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Quantum computing, the machines of tomorrow | The Japan Times - The Japan Times - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Its time to decide how quantum computing will help your ... - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Israel Enters Quantum Computer Race, Placing Encryption at Ever-Greater Risk - Sputnik International - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Prototype device enables photon-photon interactions at room ... - Phys.Org - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Dow and 1QBit Announce Collaboration Agreement on Quantum Computing - Business Wire (press release) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Imperfect crystals may be perfect storage method for quantum computing - Digital Trends - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Dow Chemical, 1QBit Ink Quantum Computing Development Deal - Zacks.com - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Google on track for quantum computer breakthrough by end of 2017 - New Scientist - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- USC to lead project to build super-speedy quantum computers - USC News - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- The Quantum Computer Factory That's Taking on Google and IBM ... - WIRED - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- The weird science of quantum computing, communications and encryption - C4ISR & Networks - June 27th, 2017 [June 27th, 2017]
- Multi-coloured photons in 100 dimensions may make quantum ... - Cosmos - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Global Quantum Computing Market Growth at a CAGR of 35.12 ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Qudits: The Real Future of Quantum Computing? - IEEE Spectrum - IEEE Spectrum - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- New method could enable more stable and scalable quantum ... - Phys.Org - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Quantum computers are about to get real | Science News - Science News Magazine - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Quantum Computing - Scientific American - June 30th, 2017 [June 30th, 2017]
- Australia's ambitious plan to win the quantum race - ZDNet - July 3rd, 2017 [July 3rd, 2017]
- How quantum mechanics can change computing - The Conversation - The Conversation US - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- UNSW joins with government and business to keep quantum computing technology in Australia - The Australian Financial Review - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- UNSW launches Australia's first hardware quantum computing company with investments from federal and NSW ... - OpenGov Asia - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Finns chill out quantum computers with qubit refrigerator to cut out errors - ZDNet - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Hype and cash are muddying public understanding of quantum ... - The Conversation AU - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- IEEE Approves Standards Project for Quantum Computing ... - insideHPC - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- Silicon Quantum Computing launched to commercialise UNSW ... - ZDNet - August 24th, 2017 [August 24th, 2017]
- The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy ... - January 30th, 2018 [January 30th, 2018]
- The Era of Quantum Computing Is Here. Outlook: Cloudy | WIRED - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Quantum computing in the NISQ era and beyond - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- What is quantum computing? - Definition from WhatIs.com - February 6th, 2018 [February 6th, 2018]
- Quantum computers - WIRED UK - February 19th, 2018 [February 19th, 2018]
- Is Quantum Computing an Existential Threat to Blockchain ... - February 21st, 2018 [February 21st, 2018]
- What is Quantum Computing? Webopedia Definition - March 25th, 2018 [March 25th, 2018]
- Quantum Computing Explained - WIRED UK - April 15th, 2018 [April 15th, 2018]
- Quantum computing: A simple introduction - Explain that Stuff - June 2nd, 2018 [June 2nd, 2018]
- What are quantum computers and how do they work? WIRED ... - June 22nd, 2018 [June 22nd, 2018]
- How Quantum Computers Work - July 22nd, 2018 [July 22nd, 2018]
- The reality of quantum computing could be just three years ... - September 12th, 2018 [September 12th, 2018]
- The 3 Types of Quantum Computers and Their Applications - November 24th, 2018 [November 24th, 2018]
- Quantum Computing - VLAB - January 27th, 2019 [January 27th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing | Centre for Quantum Computation and ... - January 27th, 2019 [January 27th, 2019]
- Microsofts quantum computing network takes a giant leap ... - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- IBM hits quantum computing milestone, may see 'Quantum ... - March 7th, 2019 [March 7th, 2019]
- Quantum technology - Wikipedia - March 13th, 2019 [March 13th, 2019]
- Quantum Computing | D-Wave Systems - April 18th, 2019 [April 18th, 2019]
- Microsoft will open-source parts of Q#, the programming ... - May 7th, 2019 [May 7th, 2019]
- What Is Quantum Computing? The Complete WIRED Guide | WIRED - May 8th, 2019 [May 8th, 2019]
- The five pillars of Edge Computing -- and what is Edge computing anyway? - Information Age - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Moore's Law Is Dying. This Brain-Inspired Analogue Chip Is a Glimpse of What's Next - Singularity Hub - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Experts Gather at Fermilab for International Workshop on Cryogenic Electronics for Quantum Systems - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Princeton announces initiative to propel innovations in quantum science and technology - Princeton University - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Detecting Environmental 'Noise' That Can Damage The Quantum State of Qubits - In Compliance - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- Quantum Computing beginning talks with clients on its quantum asset allocation application - Proactive Investors USA & Canada - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- What is quantum computing? The next era of computational evolution, explained - Digital Trends - October 1st, 2019 [October 1st, 2019]
- IT sees the Emergence of Quantum Computing as a Looming Threat to Keeping Valuable Information Confidential - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]
- More wrong answers get quantum computers to find the right one - Futurity: Research News - October 23rd, 2019 [October 23rd, 2019]