Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) have emerged as a promising means to enhance next-generation wireless networks by allowing control of radio propagation environments. Through appropriate phase shift configuration of RIS elements, significant throughput gains can be achieved. This tutorial covers RIS-assisted communications including design and fabrication of indigenously built RIS, opportunistic communication, impact of RIS in multi-operator environments, beam-split and beamsquint effects in wideband systems, distributed RISs for millimeter wave enhancement, integration with 5G NR deployment, and future research directions.

Function-correcting codes (FCC) provide error protection for computed function values. When the function is a bijection, FCC reduces to classical Error-Control Coding (ECC). The tutorial reviews initial FCC results for various metrics (Hamming, Lee, symbol-pair), discusses a general framework protecting both data and function values, presents recently proposed construction methods with explicit constructions for specific functions, and covers bounds on optimal redundancy and linearity structures in FCCs.

Imaging spectroscopy enables high-resolution passive remote sensing by capturing reflectance data across 200+ spectral bands (~10 nm resolution), supporting applications in mineral mapping, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and defense. The tutorial addresses spectral unmixing (estimating endmembers and fractional abundances), covers traditional approaches (Linear/Nonlinear Mixing Models, Vertex Component Analysis, Fully Constrained Least Squares), and explores deep learning-based unmixing using autoencoders, CNNs, generative models, and transformers, while addressing challenges in limited-labeled data, interpretability, and computational scalability.

AI/ML is reshaping the wireless communication landscape as key enablers for 5G and 6G networks. The tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of AI/ML's transformative impact on the physical layer of wireless systems, covering redesign of traditional blocks (modulation classification, synchronization, channel estimation, detection, resource allocation, physical-layer security) using learning-based models to achieve superior spectral efficiency, reduced computational complexity, and enhanced energy performance, plus intelligent autonomous network operation.

Flexible-antenna systems are recognized as key enabling technologies for 6G. PASS, demonstrated by NTT DOCOMO, uses small dielectric particles on waveguides to create strong line-of-sight (LoS) links and provide flexible antenna system scaling. The tutorial covers basic physics and signal models for PASS, fundamental transmission architectures with different numbers of waveguides and pinching antennas, MIMO implementation, efficient pinching beamforming using convex optimization and machine learning, and 6G applications (NOMA, ISAC, next-generation multiple access).

Cognitive-radio technology conserves exploited spectrum through dynamic spectrum access. The tutorial presents the complete design process of spectrum sensing for cognitive radio, covering algorithm formulation, optimization, performance analysis, VLSI transformation, FPGA emulation, ASIC fabrication, and real-world characterization. Topics include spectrum sensing challenges, covariance-matrix based algorithms, stand-alone and cooperative topologies, data-fusion approaches, cooperative-spectrum sensing (CSS) algorithms, and complete VLSI design process with practical deployment scenarios.

This session demonstrates an integrated workflow using the Satellite Communication Toolbox to model, visualize, and analyze complex communication environments involving satellites, aircraft, ground stations, and moving ground vehicles. By combining scenario modeling, waveform generation, link budget analysis, and antenna integration, participants will learn how to construct a satellite communication simulation environment. The session also demonstrates how to incorporate antenna designs into the simulations.

Key points covered include:

• Visualizing 2D/3D satellite orbits, fields of view, and ground tracks
• Analyzing line-of-sight access and computing link closures for scenarios involving satellites, aircraft, ground stations, and moving vehicles
• Performing time-varying link budget analysis with customizable scenarios
• Integrating antenna designs from Antenna Toolbox
• Incorporating measured or third-party simulated antenna pattern data into satellite communication system analyses
• Performing optimal ground-station antenna selection using Gaussian Beam Analysis

3GPP initiated standardization for satellite integration as a critical 5G ecosystem component. Specifications encompass LEO, MEO, GEO, and HEO satellite constellations, frequency range 2-30 GHz, and compatibility with high altitude platforms (HAPs). NTNs are essential for 6G global connectivity and seamless coverage. The tutorial offers a comprehensive understanding from fundamental to advanced levels, addressing research challenges in spectrum coordination, flexibility of 6G radio access, and 6G network architectures including reconfigurable intelligent networks, free space optics (FSO) communication, satellite-air-ground integrated network (SAGIN) systems, channel modeling, and hands-on simulation sessions.