UAV-Enabled Integrated Sensing and Communication: Opportunities and Challenges

Meng K, Wu Q, Xu J, Chen W, Feng Z, Schober R, Swindlehurst AL (2024)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

IEEE Wireless Communications IEEE

Book Volume: 31

Pages Range: 97-104

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1109/MWC.131.2200442

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has attracted growing research interests in the context of sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks, in which UAVs will be exploited as aerial wireless platforms to provide better coverage and enhanced sensing and communication (S&C) services. However, due to the size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints of UAVs, their controllable mobility, and the line-of-sight (LoS) air-ground channels, UAV-enabled ISAC introduces new opportunities and challenges. This article provides an overview of UAV-enabled ISAC and proposes various solutions for optimizing the S&C performance. In particular, we first introduce UAV-enabled joint S&C and discuss UAV motion control, wireless resource allocation, and interference management for ISAC systems employing single and multiple UAVs. Then, we present two application scenarios for exploiting the synergy between S&C, namely sensing-assisted UAV communication and communication-assisted UAV sensing. Finally, we highlight several interesting research directions to guide and motivate future work.

Authors with CRIS profile

Robert Schober Lehrstuhl für Digitale Übertragung (IDC)

Involved external institutions

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) CN China (CN) Shanghai Jiao Tong University / 上海交通大学 CN China (CN) Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) / 北京邮电大学 CN China (CN) University of California Irvine US United States (USA) (US) University of Macau (UM) / Universidade de Macau / 澳門大學 MO Macao (MO)

How to cite

APA:

Meng, K., Wu, Q., Xu, J., Chen, W., Feng, Z., Schober, R., & Swindlehurst, A.L. (2024). UAV-Enabled Integrated Sensing and Communication: Opportunities and Challenges. IEEE Wireless Communications, 31(2), 97-104. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWC.131.2200442

MLA:

Meng, Kaitao, et al. "UAV-Enabled Integrated Sensing and Communication: Opportunities and Challenges." IEEE Wireless Communications 31.2 (2024): 97-104.

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