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About

About

Manuel Alberto Pereira Ricardo has Licenciatura, M.Sc. and PhD (2000) degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering (EEC), major of Telecommunications, from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). Manuel Ricardo is currently a full professor at FEUP where he teaches courses on Mobile Communications and Computer Networks at FEUP. He is a member of the Executive Committee of his department (EEC) and member of the Scientific Committee of the Doctoral Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering. At INESC TEC, he coordinated the Wireless Networks area (2001-2011), the Center for Telecommunications and Multimedia (2011-2018), was member of the Board of Directors (2018-2021), and is currently an associate director focused on telecommunications. He created the Portuguese Thematic Network on Mobile Communications (RTCM, 2004). He is a member of the Steering Committee of the ns-3 communications network simulator consortium. He participated in 30+ research projects and has 150+ articles published. His research areas are mobile communications networks, quality of service, radio resource management, network congestion control, traffic characterization and performance assessment.

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Details

Details

  • Name

    Manuel Ricardo
  • Role

    TEC4 Coordinator
  • Since

    01st January 1996
028
Publications

2025

Converge: towards an efficient multi-modal sensing research infrastructure for next-generation 6 G networks

Authors
Teixeira, FB; Ricardo, M; Coelho, A; Oliveira, HP; Viana, P; Paulino, N; Fontes, H; Marques, P; Campos, R; Pessoa, L;

Publication
EURASIP JOURNAL ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING

Abstract
Telecommunications and computer vision solutions have evolved significantly in recent years, allowing a huge advance in the functionalities and applications offered. However, these two fields have been making their way as separate areas, not exploring the potential benefits of merging the innovations brought from each of them. In challenging environments, for example, combining radio sensing and computer vision can strongly contribute to solving problems such as those introduced by obstructions or limited lighting. Machine learning algorithms, able to fuse heterogeneous and multi-modal data, are also a key element for understanding and inferring additional knowledge from raw and low-level data, able to create a new abstracting level that can significantly enhance many applications. This paper introduces the CONVERGE vision-radio concept, a new paradigm that explores the benefits of integrating two fields of knowledge towards the vision of View-to-Communicate, Communicate-to-View. The main concepts behind this vision, including supporting use cases and the proposed architecture, are presented. CONVERGE introduces a set of tools integrating wireless communications and computer vision to create a novel experimental infrastructure that will provide open datasets to the scientific community of both experimental and simulated data, enabling new research addressing various 6 G verticals, including telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, media, and health.

2025

Modular Design and Experimental Evaluation of 5G Mobile Cell Architectures Based on Overlay and Integrated Models

Authors
Ruela, J; Cojocaru, I; Coelho, A; Campos, R; Ricardo, M;

Publication
CoRR

Abstract

2025

A Reinforcement Learning Framework for Mobility Control of gNBs in Dynamic Radio Access Networks

Authors
Duarte, P; Coelho, A; Ricardo, M;

Publication
2025 21TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WIRELESS AND MOBILE COMPUTING, NETWORKING AND COMMUNICATIONS, WIMOB

Abstract
The increasing complexity of wireless environments, driven by user mobility and dynamic obstructions, poses significant challenges to maintaining Line-of-Sight (LoS) connectivity. Mobile base stations (gNBs) offer a promising solution by physically relocating to restore or sustain LoS. This paper explores how reinforcement learning (RL) can be applied to gNB mobility control within vision-aided network systems. As part of the CONVERGE project, we present the CONVERGE Chamber Simulator (CC-SIM), a 3D environment for developing, training, and testing gNB mobility control algorithms. CC-SIM models user and obstacle mobility, visual occlusion, and Radio Frequency (RF) propagation while supporting both offline reinforcement learning and real-time validation through integration with OpenAirInterface (OAI). Leveraging CC-SIM, we trained a Deep Q-Network (DQN) agent that proactively repositions gNBs under dynamic conditions. Across three representative use cases, the agent reduced LoS blockage by up to 42% compared to static deployments, highlighting the potential of RL-driven mobility control and positioning CC-SIM as a practical platform for advancing adaptive, next-generation wireless networks.

2025

Autonomous Vision-Aided UAV Positioning for Obstacle-Aware Wireless Connectivity

Authors
Shafafi, K; Ricardo, M; Campos, R;

Publication
CoRR

Abstract

2025

Joint Optimization of Multi-UAV Deployment and 3D Positioning in Traffic-Aware Aerial Networks

Authors
Shafafi, K; Abdellatif, AA; Ricardo, M; Campos, R;

Publication
CoRR

Abstract