Multi-Beam Integrated Sensing and Communication: State-of-the-Art, Challenges and Opportunities

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state, key technologies, challenges, and future opportunities of multi-beam integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems, emphasizing their potential for high-throughput, high-resolution wireless applications.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of multi-beam ISAC technology, highlighting recent advancements and identifying future research directions.

Findings

Multi-beam ISAC enhances joint sensing and communication capabilities.

Key technologies include beamforming, transmitter, channel, and receiver design.

Challenges involve system complexity and integration issues.

Abstract

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has been envisioned as a critical enabling technology for the next-generation wireless communication, which can realize location/motion detection of surroundings with communication devices. This additional sensing capability leads to a substantial network quality gain and expansion of the service scenarios. As the system evolves to millimeter wave (mmWave) and above, ISAC can realize simultaneous communications and sensing of the ultra-high throughput level and radar resolution with compact design, which relies on directional beamforming against the path loss. With the multi-beam technology, the dual functions of ISAC can be seamlessly incorporated at the beamspace level by unleashing the potential of joint beamforming. To this end, this article investigates the key technologies for multi-beam ISAC system. We begin with an overview of the current state-of-the-art solutions in multi-beam ISAC. Subsequently, a detailed analysis of the advantages associated with the multi-beam ISAC is provided. Additionally, the key technologies for transmitter, channel and receiver of the multi-beam ISAC are introduced. Finally, we explore the challenges and opportunities presented by multi-beam ISAC, offering valuable insights into this emerging field.