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arXiv · 2206.03408

UAV-Enabled Integrated Sensing and Communication: Opportunities and Challenges

Kaitao Meng·Qingqing Wu·Jie Xu·Wen Chen·Zhiyong Feng·Robert Schober·A. Lee Swindlehurst
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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 UAVs' size, weight, and power (SWAP) constraints, controllable mobility, and line-of-sight (LoS) air-ground channels, UAV-enabled ISAC introduces both 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 the cases of 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.

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Kaitao Meng, Qingqing Wu, Jie Xu, Wen Chen, Zhiyong Feng, Robert Schober, A. Lee Swindlehurst. 2023-05-19. UAV-Enabled Integrated Sensing and Communication: Opportunities and Challenges. https://doi.org/10.1109/mwc.131.2200442.

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