# Emerging Topics in Joint Radio-Based Positioning, Sensing, and Communications

## TL;DR

This paper explores new directions in combining wireless positioning, sensing, and communications technologies.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a unified terminology and identifies emerging research topics in joint positioning, sensing, and communications.

## Key findings

- Emerging trends include extremely large-scale antennas and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.
- Integration of terrestrial and satellite-based systems is a key research direction.
- Cell-free or distributed networks with JPSAC functions are gaining attention.

## Abstract

This is an editorial paper focusing on emerging topics in joint wireless positioning, sensing, and communications. After introducing the sometimes-confusing and non-unified terminology in the field and defining the overall research area under the comprehensive terminology of Joint positioning, sensing, and communications (JPSAC), a brief state-of-the art overview is given, followed by a detailed list of emerging topics and open research questions. The ongoing Horizon Europe projects are also reviewed in relation to the emerging JPSAC. Some of the main trends in the JPSAC-related areas are related to extremely large-scale antennas and apertures, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, the integration of terrestrial and satellite-based communication, sensing, and positioning functionalities, and cell-free or distributed networks with JPSAC functions.