Ahmad Taha

Bio: Ahmad Taha is an academic researcher from University of Glasgow. The author has contributed to research in topics: Industry 4.0. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 6 citations.

6G opportunities arising from Internet of Things use cases: a review paper

Abstract: The race for the 6th generation of wireless networks (6G) has begun. Researchers around the world have started to explore the best solutions for the challenges that the previous generations have experienced. To provide the readers with a clear map of the current developments, several review papers shared their vision and critically evaluated the state of the art. However, most of the work is based on general observations and the big picture vision, and lack the practical implementation challenges of the Internet of Things (IoT) use cases. This paper takes a novel approach in the review, as we present a sample of IoT use cases that are representative of a wide variety of its implementations. The chosen use cases are from the most research-active sectors that can benefit from 6G and its enabling technologies. These sectors are healthcare, smart grid, transport, and Industry 4.0. Additionally, we identified some of the practical challenges and the lessons learned in the implementation of these use cases. The review highlights the cases’ main requirements and how they overlap with the key drivers for the future generation of wireless networks.

5G-enabled contactless multi-user presence and activity detection for independent assisted living.

Abstract: Wireless sensing is the state-of-the-art technique for next generation health activity monitoring. Smart homes and healthcare centres have a demand for multi-subject health activity monitoring to cater for future requirements. 5G-sensing coupled with deep learning models has enabled smart health monitoring systems, which have the potential to classify multiple activities based on variations in channel state information (CSI) of wireless signals. Proposed is the first 5G-enabled system operating at 3.75 GHz for multi-subject, in-home health activity monitoring, to the best of the authors’ knowledge. Classified are activities of daily life performed by up to 4 subjects, in 16 categories. The proposed system combines subject count and activities performed in different classes together, resulting in simultaneous identification of occupancy count and activities performed. The CSI amplitudes obtained from 51 subcarriers of the wireless signal are processed and combined to capture variations due to simultaneous multi-subject movements. A deep learning convolutional neural network is engineered and trained on the CSI data to differentiate multi-subject activities. The proposed system provides a high average accuracy of 91.25% for single subject movements and an overall high multi-class accuracy of 83% for 4 subjects and 16 classification categories. The proposed system can potentially fulfill the needs of future in-home health activity monitoring and is a viable alternative for monitoring public health and well being.

Revolution or Evolution? Technical Requirements and Considerations towards 6G Mobile Communications

Abstract: Ever since the introduction of fifth generation (5G) mobile communications, the mobile telecommunications industry has been debating whether 5G is an “evolution” or “revolution” from the previous legacy mobile networks, but now that 5G has been commercially available for the past few years, the research direction has recently shifted towards the upcoming generation of mobile communication system, known as the sixth generation (6G), which is expected to drastically provide significant and evolutionary, if not revolutionary, improvements in mobile networks. The promise of extremely high data rates (in terabits), artificial intelligence (AI), ultra-low latency, near-zero/low energy, and immense connected devices is expected to enhance the connectivity, sustainability, and trustworthiness and provide some new services, such as truly immersive “extended reality” (XR), high-fidelity mobile hologram, and a new generation of entertainment. Sixth generation and its vision are still under research and open for developers and researchers to establish and develop their directions to realize future 6G technology, which is expected to be ready as early as 2028. This paper reviews 6G mobile technology, including its vision, requirements, enabling technologies, and challenges. Meanwhile, a total of 11 communication technologies, including terahertz (THz) communication, visible light communication (VLC), multiple access, coding, cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) zero-energy interface, intelligent reflecting surface (IRS), and infusion of AI/machine learning (ML) in wireless transmission techniques, are presented. Moreover, this paper compares 5G and 6G in terms of services, key technologies, and enabling communications techniques. Finally, it discusses the crucial future directions and technology developments in 6G.

Unpacking the ‘15-Minute City’ via 6G, IoT, and Digital Twins: Towards a New Narrative for Increasing Urban Efficiency, Resilience, and Sustainability

Abstract: The ‘15-minute city’ concept is emerging as a potent urban regeneration model in post-pandemic cities, offering new vantage points on liveability and urban health. While the concept is primarily geared towards rethinking urban morphologies, it can be furthered via the adoption of Smart Cities network technologies to provide tailored pathways to respond to contextualised challenges through the advent of data mining and processing to better inform urban decision-making processes. We argue that the ‘15-minute city’ concept can value-add from Smart City network technologies in particular through Digital Twins, Internet of Things (IoT), and 6G. The data gathered by these technologies, and processed via Machine Learning techniques, can unveil new patterns to understand the characteristics of urban fabrics. Collectively, those dimensions, unpacked to support the ‘15-minute city’ concept, can provide new opportunities to redefine agendas to better respond to economic and societal needs as well as align more closely with environmental commitments, including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 and the New Urban Agenda. This perspective paper presents new sets of opportunities for cities arguing that these new connectivities should be explored now so that appropriate protocols can be devised and so that urban agendas can be recalibrated to prepare for upcoming technology advances, opening new pathways for urban regeneration and resilience crafting.

Internet of Things Technologies and Machine Learning Methods for Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis, Monitoring and Management: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that affects a large portion of the population, especially the elderly. It manifests with motor, cognitive and other types of symptoms, decreasing significantly the patients’ quality of life. The recent advances in the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence fields, including the subdomains of machine learning and deep learning, can support Parkinson’s disease patients, their caregivers and clinicians at every stage of the disease, maximizing the treatment effectiveness and minimizing the respective healthcare costs at the same time. In this review, the considered studies propose machine learning models, trained on data acquired via smart devices, wearable or non-wearable sensors and other Internet of Things technologies, to provide predictions or estimations regarding Parkinson’s disease aspects. Seven hundred and seventy studies have been retrieved from three dominant academic literature databases. Finally, one hundred and twelve of them have been selected in a systematic way and have been considered in the state-of-the-art systematic review presented in this paper. These studies propose various methods, applied on various sensory data to address different Parkinson’s disease-related problems. The most widely deployed sensors, the most commonly addressed problems and the best performing algorithms are highlighted. Finally, some challenges are summarized along with some future considerations and opportunities that arise.

Discrete human activity recognition and fall detection by combining FMCW RADAR data of heterogeneous environments for independent assistive living

Abstract: Human activity monitoring is essential for a variety of applications in many fields, particularly healthcare. The goal of this research work is to develop a system that can effectively detect fall/collapse and classify other discrete daily living activities such as sitting, standing, walking, drinking, and bending. For this paper, a publicly accessible dataset is employed, which is captured at various geographical locations using a 5.8 GHz Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) RADAR. A total of ninety-nine participants, including young and elderly individuals, took part in the experimental campaign. During data acquisition, each aforementioned activity was recorded for 5–10 s. Through the obtained data, we generated the micro-doppler signatures using short-time Fourier transform by exploiting MATLAB tools. Subsequently, the micro-doppler signatures are validated, trained, and tested using a state-of-the-art deep learning algorithm called Residual Neural Network or ResNet. The ResNet classifier is developed in Python, which is utilised to classify six distinct human activities in this study. Furthermore, the metrics used to analyse the trained model’s performance are precision, recall, F1-score, classification accuracy, and confusion matrix. To test the resilience of the proposed method, two separate experiments are carried out. The trained ResNet models are put to the test by subject-independent scenarios and unseen data of the above-mentioned human activities at diverse geographical spaces. The experimental results showed that ResNet detected the falling and rest of the daily living human activities with decent accuracy.

Sixth Generation (6G) Cognitive Radio Network (CRN) Application, Requirements, Security Issues, and Key Challenges

Abstract: Recently, 5G installation has been started globally. Different capabilities are in the consistent procedure, like ultrareliability, mass connectivity, and specific low latency. Though, 5G is insufficient to meet all the necessities of the future technology in 2030 and so on. Next generation information and communication technology is playing an important role in attraction of researchers, industries, and technical people. With respect to 5G networks, sixth-generation (6G) CR networks are anticipated to familiarize innovative use cases and performance metrics, such as to offer worldwide coverage, cost efficiency, enhanced spectral, energy improved intelligence, and safety. To reach such requirements, upcoming 6G CRNs will trust novel empowering technologies. Innovative network architecture and transmission technologies and air interface are of excessive position, like multiple accesses, waveform design, multiantenna technologies, and channel coding schemes. (1) To content, the condition should be of worldwide coverage, there will be no limit on 6G to global CR communication networks that may require to be completed with broadcast networks, like satellite communication networks, therefore, attaining a sea integrated communication network. (2) The spectrums overall will be entirely travelled to the supplementary rise connection density data rates in optical frequency bands, millimeter wave (mmWave), sub-6 GHz, and terahertz (THz). (3) To see big datasets created because of tremendously varied CR communication networks, antenna rush, diverse communication scenarios, new provision necessities, wide bandwidth, and 6G CRNs will allow an innovative variety of intelligent applications with the assistance of big data and AI technologies. (4) Need to improve network security when deploying 6G technology in CR networks. 6G is decentralized, intended, intelligent innovative, and distributed network. In this article, we studied a survey of current developments and upcoming trends. We studied the predicted applications, possible technologies, and security issues for 6G CR network communication. We also discussed predicted future key challenges in 6G.