At a busy street intersection, dozens of systems are quietly at work. Traffic cameras monitor vehicles and cars exchange information about where they are. In today’s wireless networks, all of that information contains massive amounts of data. But what if the system only shared what actually mattered?
That question is at the center of new research led by Mingzhe Chen, electrical and computer engineering assistant professor at the University of Miami College of Engineering, who has received a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation to explore a fundamentally different way for future wireless systems to communicate.
While traditional wireless networks deliver as much information as possible, they won’t be able to support emerging technologies. In scenarios such as autonomous transportation or mixed reality, devices generate massive amounts of data; much of it is redundant or unnecessary for decision-making. Rather than transmitting that data continuously, Chen’s research explores how artificial intelligence can help wireless systems identify what information really matters and communicate only that.
For example, instead of sending a live video feed from a camera monitoring an intersection, a system might transmit a concise message such as an accident detected. The goal is not just to move data faster, but to share understanding more efficiently.
A key component of Chen’s work is recognizing that communication does not happen in a vacuum. Devices often share common knowledge, context, or even expectations, much like people do in everyday conversation.
His research investigates how wireless devices can determine what both the sender and receiver already know, reducing unnecessary communication. At the same time, the work considers real-world constraints, such as limited computing power, energy consumption, and the need for new approaches to coexist with today’s standard communication systems.
The five-year NSF CAREER project is highly foundational, focusing on the underlying principles, models, and optimization methods needed to make meaning-based communication possible. Chen’s team will evaluate these ideas through simulations, prototype systems, and wireless testbeds, including emerging open radio access network platforms.
The work is also closely aligned with global efforts to define 6G, the next generation of wireless technology. Researchers envision 6G networks not simply as faster versions of today’s cellular systems, but as AI-native platforms designed to support intelligent applications.
“This CAREER award reflects the kind of forward-thinking research we strive to conduct in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,” said Pinhas Ben‑Tzvi, chair of the department. “Dr. Chen’s work addresses fundamental questions about how future communication systems will operate in an AI‑driven world. It’s implications for next‑generation telecommunications are broad and far‑reaching.”
In addition to advancing research, the CAREER award supports Chen’s commitment to education and workforce development. His project includes the creation of a new course, hands-on educational tools, and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at the College of Engineering.
