Convergent Communication, Sensing and Localization in 6G Systems: An Overview of Technologies, Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Herein, we focus on convergent 6G communication, localization and sensing systems by identifying key technology enablers, discussing their underlying challenges, implementation issues, and recommending potential solutions. Moreover, we discuss exciting new opportunities for integrated localization and sensing applications, which will disrupt traditional design principles and revolutionize the way we live, interact with our environment, and do business. Regarding potential enabling technologies, 6G will continue to develop towards even higher frequency ranges, wider bandwidths, and massive antenna arrays. In turn, this will enable sensing solutions with very fine range, Doppler, and angular resolutions, as well as localization to cm-level degree of accuracy. Besides, new materials, device types, and reconfigurable surfaces will allow network operators to reshape and control the electromagnetic response of the environment. At the same time, machine learning and artificial intelligence will leverage the unprecedented availability of data and computing resources to tackle the biggest and hardest problems in wireless communication systems. As a result, 6G will be truly intelligent wireless systems that will provide not only ubiquitous communication but also empower high accuracy localization and high-resolution sensing services. They will become the catalyst for this revolution by bringing about a unique new set of features and service capabilities, where localization and sensing will coexist with communication, continuously sharing the available resources in time, frequency, and space. This work concludes by highlighting foundational research challenges, as well as implications and opportunities related to privacy, security, and trust.The associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Ahmed Farouk .

Millimeter-Wave Radar Scheme With Passive Reflector for Uncontrolled Blind Urban Intersection

“…The most popular of these is the corner reflector, returning the signal precisely to the source point. To this end, smart surfaces are currently being actively studied and considered, for example, in the context of 6G systems [21], [22]. Recent advances in metamaterials offer the prospect of deploying smart surfaces, or intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS), that can manipulate EM channels.…”

“…In the measurements, OFDM signal with channel bandwidth of 200 MHz and 60 kHz subcarrier spacing is utilized, inline with the 3GPP 5G New Radio specifications at the mmWave bands [28]. The utilization of an actual data modulated OFDM waveform is deliberately pursued, instead of a dedicated radar waveform, in the spirit of RF convergence [22], [29], [30]. For each of the analyzed deployment configurations listed in Table I, the radar processing and the corresponding radar image construction are carried out 20 times along the route of the vehicle illustrated in Fig.…”

When wearable technology meets computing in future networks

“…In its turn, beyond 5G systems are expected to migrate more towards higher frequencies, e.g., THz communications, and ensure radio frequency convergence between sensing, communications, and positioning tasks [8]. Consequently, networks are evolving to utilize SDN, NFV primarily, and cloud-native architectures to enable dis-aggregation and primary functions' virtualization [16].…”

Optimized Waveforms for 5G–6G Communication With Sensing: Theory, Simulations and Experiments

“…The use of similar hardware solutions in the two systems, such as phased-arrays, has also complemented RF convergence. Thus, a joint communication and sensing (JCAS) system can be pursued [2], [9], with shared waveform and hardware, and minimal performance degradation for both functionalities. For further information, prominent surveys on the topic can be found in [2], [8]- [15] to name but a few.…”