Reconstructing wireless signals for low altitude networks using small language models

Wireless signal reconstruction is essential for RF-based positioning in GPS-denied environments. However, multipath propagation, shadowing, and non-Gaussian noise complicate this, and traditional methods require extensive site-specific calibration that precludes rapid deployment. We present In-Context Signal Completion (ICSC), demonstrating that small language models fine-tuned with Group Relative Policy Optimization and physics-informed rewards can reconstruct RSSI across sequential extrapolation and spatial interpolation tasks. Our 0.5B-parameter model attains 55% recall within 2 dB and a 2.85 dB mean absolute error on sequential prediction. This achieves a 49% error reduction over the untrained baseline, performing on par with GPT-4o (51%) with fewer parameters. Successful zero-shot transfer to spatial interpolation indicates the model acquires transferable physical reasoning rather than task-specific memorization. Operating at 3 ms latency for real-time edge inference, ICSC reduces deployment from weeks of per-site data collection to immediate inference using sequential context.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
npj Wireless Technology
Published
2026-09-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44459-026-00084-5
Primary Topic
Indoor and Outdoor Localization Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Reconstructing wireless signals for low altitude networks using small language models

Chau Yuen, Ran Liu, Xin Li
npj Wireless Technology
Indoor and Outdoor Localization Technologies
article

Reconstructing wireless signals for low altitude networks using small language models

Chau Yuen, Ran Liu, Xin Li
article en

Abstract

Wireless signal reconstruction is essential for RF-based positioning in GPS-denied environments. However, multipath propagation, shadowing, and non-Gaussian noise complicate this, and traditional methods require extensive site-specific calibration that precludes rapid deployment. We present In-Context Signal Completion (ICSC), demonstrating that small language models fine-tuned with Group Relative Policy Optimization and physics-informed rewards can reconstruct RSSI across sequential extrapolation and spatial interpolation tasks. Our 0.5B-parameter model attains 55% recall within 2 dB and a 2.85 dB mean absolute error on sequential prediction. This achieves a 49% error reduction over the untrained baseline, performing on par with GPT-4o (51%) with fewer parameters. Successful zero-shot transfer to spatial interpolation indicates the model acquires transferable physical reasoning rather than task-specific memorization. Operating at 3 ms latency for real-time edge inference, ICSC reduces deployment from weeks of per-site data collection to immediate inference using sequential context.

npj Wireless TechnologyVol. 2(1)
Nanyang Technological University (SG)
National Research Foundation, National Research Foundation Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Info-communications Media Development Authority
Openalex Percentile: Top 20%
Indoor and Outdoor Localization Technologies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Reconstructing wireless signals for low altitude networks using small language models — Chau Yuen, Ran Liu, et al. · npj Wireless Technology (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS