KAUST ECE students achieve high honors in Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks for 6G (NTNYS'24)

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KAUST Ph.D. candidate Omar Khalifa earned an impressive second place in the global Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks for 6G (NTNYS'24). The IEEE Future Networks Initiative organized the competition as part of the "Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum," which took place last November in Riyadh. 
    
Second place, and a prize of $10,000, was awarded to Khalifa based on his work titled "Supplying Data for Digital Twins in Green Smart Cities: A Non-Invasive NTN-IoT Approach."

The international forum, which focused on the theme “Shaping the Future of Converged Connectivity,” was hosted by the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The future of wireless connectivity, particularly the immense potential of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs)—wireless communication systems connecting mobile devices to terrestrial and satellite networks above the Earth’s surface—were central discussion topics.

The significance of NTNs is set to increase with the global advancement of 5G and 6G wireless networks. In an "anywhere and anytime," world increasingly reliant on seamless interconnectedness, next-generation wireless networks are embracing the superior potential of NTNs that are capable of addressing prior limitations of terrestrial-based networks.

Khalifa’s NTNYS'24 submission presented cutting-edge, infrastructure-free Internet of Things (IoT) applications designed to effectively address the intricate connectivity challenges of the future. The main objective of this research is to significantly enhance the monitoring of NEOM’s expansive protected areas, thereby bolstering efforts in environmental conservation, facilitating timely rescue operations and strengthening security initiatives.

The project is a collaborative research effort involving Khalifa and his supervisor, Professor Tareq Al-Naffouri; Dr. Nour Kouzayha, KAUST; Professor Hesham ElSawy, Queen’s University, U.K.; Dr. Noha Al-Harthi and Professor Jaafar Elmirghani, from the Technology, Research, and Innovation Department in Public Safety at NEOM.

Recognizing the importance of this milestone in his research journey, Khalifa emphasized his colleagues' invaluable role in this success: “I am truly honored to be named the second-place winner of NTNYS'24. This achievement is a testament to our collective effort and would not have been possible without my advisers' unwavering support, guidance and mentorship, particularly Professor Al-Naffouri.

“Awards like this provide vital exposure and acknowledgement for students, enabling our work to reach a broader audience in both industry and academia. It strengthens my confidence in the impact of my work and inspires me to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation," he added.

Driving the Kingdom’s technological and industrial landscape

Khalifa’s research at KAUST is at the forefront of IoT systems design for challenging environments that lack infrastructure. His work addresses critical applications, such as monitoring oil pipelines and conducting non-invasive environmental assessments both underwater and underground. Utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), he efficiently captures IoT data, paving the way for advancements in sustainability and resource management in off-grid areas.

“I also employ advanced energy-efficient communication technologies, such as wake-up radio (WuR), to enhance these systems' sustainability," he noted. “My research has the potential to significantly impact industries such as oil and gas, environmental conservation, and beyond.”

Through ongoing experimental studies and strategic collaboration with industry leaders like Saudi Aramco and NEOM, Khalifa hopes to usher in ground-breaking advancements in IoT technology. These innovations are set to not only bolster Saudi Arabia’s strategic objectives but also establish the Kingdom as a global leader in cutting-edge IoT applications.

“My proposed solutions significantly contribute to environmental sustainability by enabling continuous, large-scale monitoring of ecosystems lacking communication and power infrastructure. This supports resource management, ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation efforts, which are key components of Vision 2030.”

While at KAUST, the young researcher aims to enhance his research and innovation skills. With a strong commitment to advancing his solutions to high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), Khalifa is determined to validate them in real-world industrial environments.

“My ultimate aspiration is to translate these solutions into impactful products that can drive tangible change and contribute to the nation’s technological and industrial landscape. I want to establish a startup and form a network of national collaborators to deliver holistic IoT solutions. This directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and the digital economy,” he noted.

Further recognition at NTNYS'24

The academic excellence of KAUST received further recognition at the "Connecting the World from the Skies Global Forum" thanks to the innovative research of Khalifa’s peers, Hao Lin (M.S./Ph.D.) and Pinjun Zheng (Ph.D.).

Lin and Zheng, who work under the supervision of Professor Mohamed Slim-Alouini and Professor Tareq Al-Naffouri, respectively, distinguished themselves as two of the top 10 NTNYS'24 finalists.

Khalifa, Lin, and Zheng’s achievements have further solidified KAUST’s outstanding record in the competition. They build on the success of Ph.D. student Rawan Alghamdi (co-advised by Professors Al-Naffouri and Alouini), who earned the runner-up prize in the 2022 edition.

Al-Naffouri, head of KAUST’s Information Science Lab (ISL), was greatly impressed by the accomplishments of his students at NTNYS'24: “Our lab has demonstrated our impact through publications, test beds, demos and startups in the making. Having two finalists in such a prestigious competition is a reflection of the quality of work we are doing at the ISL."