Green Joint Communications and Sensing Employing Analog Multi-Beam Antenna Arrays

TL;DR

This paper proposes energy-efficient multi-beam antenna arrays for joint communications and sensing in 6G, offering simplified design, low power consumption, and enhanced beam capabilities compared to existing digital and hybrid arrays.

Contribution

Introduction of fixed analog multi-beam antenna arrays using pre-designed devices for green JCAS with flexible beam synthesis and accurate angle estimation.

Findings

Energy-efficient multi-beam steering with fixed analog devices

Enhanced beam synthesis and angle-of-arrival estimation

Discussion of challenges and opportunities in green JCAS

Abstract

Joint communications and sensing (JCAS) is potentially a hallmark technology for the sixth generation mobile network (6G). Most existing JCAS designs are based on digital arrays, analog arrays with tunable phase shifters, or hybrid arrays, which are effective but are generally complicated to design and power inefficient. This article introduces the energy-efficient and easy-to-design multi-beam antenna arrays (MBAAs) for JCAS. Using pre-designed and fixed analog devices, such as lens or Butler matrix, MBAA can simultaneously steer multiple beams yet with negligible power consumption compared with other techniques. Moreover, MBAAs enable flexible beam synthesis, accurate angle-of-arrival estimation, and easy handling/utilization of the beam squint effect. All these features have not been well captured by the JACS community yet. To promote the awareness of them, we intuitively illustrate them and also exploit them for constructing a multi-beam JCAS framework. Finally, the challenges and opportunities are discussed to foster the development of green JCAS systems.