Miniaturized Reconfigurable Metamaterial Antenna for Secure 6G Edge-Cloud Communication Systems

Abstract

The rapid emergence of sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks and edge-cloud computing has created a strong demand for compact, high-gain, and secure antenna systems capable of supporting ultra-high data rates and intelligent communication services. Conventional microstrip antennas suffer from limitations such as narrow bandwidth, low gain, and inadequate adaptability to dynamic communication environments. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a Miniaturized Reconfigurable Metamaterial Antenna (MRMA) for secure 6G edge-cloud communication systems. The proposed antenna incorporates complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR)-based metamaterial structures and PIN-diode-enabled frequency reconfiguration to achieve multi-band operation and enhanced radiation performance. Furthermore, an AI-assisted beam optimization framework is integrated to improve secure data transmission and minimize interference in edge-cloud architectures. Simulation results reveal that the proposed antenna achieves an impedance bandwidth of 4.8 GHz, peak gain of 12.6 dBi, radiation efficiency of 94.3%, return loss of –38.7 dB, and VSWR of 1.05, outperforming conventional microstrip and metamaterial antennas. The compact size of 18 mm × 20 mm × 0.8 mm makes the antenna highly suitable for future secure 6G edge-cloud communication systems, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and intelligent healthcare applications.