Distributed Movable Antenna Systems for Reliable, Flexible, and Resilient Communications: Architectures, Techniques, and Challenges

TY - JOUR

T1 - Distributed Movable Antenna Systems for Reliable, Flexible, and Resilient Communications

T2 - Architectures, Techniques, and Challenges

AU - Pan, Gaofeng

AU - Wu, Yanxin

AU - Si, Yanci

AU - Hua, Zizheng

AU - Gao, Xiang

AU - Wang, Shuai

AU - An, Jianping

AU - Niyato, Dusit

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2002-2012 IEEE.

PY - 2026/4/1

Y1 - 2026/4/1

N2 - Traditional antenna systems, constrained by static architectures, are increasingly unable to support the reliable, flexible, and resilient communications demanded in dynamic environments. This article introduces the Distributed Movable Antenna System (DMAS), a novel architecture that combines local antenna mobility with distributed Remote Movable Antenna Units (RMAUs) to exploit spatial degrees of freedom (DoF) across large geographical areas. By extending coverage through distributed deployment and enhancing channel quality via antenna adjustments, DMAS enables more adaptive and robust wireless transmissions under intricate propagation conditions. In this article, we initially introduce a representative architecture of DMAS. To illustrate the advantages of DMAS, we compare it to existing antenna systems and propose its potential application scenarios. We then examine the main design considerations, including RMAU deployment, synchronization, channel estimation, and movable antenna optimization. The simulation results demonstrate the improvements in signal strength and system capacity with DMAS. Furthermore, a general optimization framework is outlined and discussed to guide the optimization of DMAS. Ultimately, potential integration prospects are investigated, significant deployment obstacles, alongside viable solutions, are addressed for the practical implementation of DMAS.

AB - Traditional antenna systems, constrained by static architectures, are increasingly unable to support the reliable, flexible, and resilient communications demanded in dynamic environments. This article introduces the Distributed Movable Antenna System (DMAS), a novel architecture that combines local antenna mobility with distributed Remote Movable Antenna Units (RMAUs) to exploit spatial degrees of freedom (DoF) across large geographical areas. By extending coverage through distributed deployment and enhancing channel quality via antenna adjustments, DMAS enables more adaptive and robust wireless transmissions under intricate propagation conditions. In this article, we initially introduce a representative architecture of DMAS. To illustrate the advantages of DMAS, we compare it to existing antenna systems and propose its potential application scenarios. We then examine the main design considerations, including RMAU deployment, synchronization, channel estimation, and movable antenna optimization. The simulation results demonstrate the improvements in signal strength and system capacity with DMAS. Furthermore, a general optimization framework is outlined and discussed to guide the optimization of DMAS. Ultimately, potential integration prospects are investigated, significant deployment obstacles, alongside viable solutions, are addressed for the practical implementation of DMAS.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105016740179

U2 - 10.1109/MWC.2025.3599138

DO - 10.1109/MWC.2025.3599138

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105016740179

SN - 1536-1284

VL - 33

SP - 217

EP - 225

JO - IEEE Wireless Communications

JF - IEEE Wireless Communications

IS - 2

ER -