Upcoming Issues May 20, 2024
Guest Editor:
- Moeness Amin, Villanova University, USA
Description:
As the wireless industry evolves toward next-generation standards, the traditional boundaries between communications and sensing are rapidly dissolving, driving the emergence of Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC). This convergence leverages shared hardware and radio-frequency resources to enable simultaneous data transmission and environmental perception, transforming conventional user equipment—and more critically, base stations—into multifunctional radar-capable nodes capable of detecting, localizing, and tracking objects in their surroundings. This novel integration presents numerous new opportunities and use cases for both network operators and users. This special section on ISAC will highlight recent advancements centered on single base station architectures equipped with multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna arrays. The focus will include key technical areas such as clutter modeling and mitigation, interference suppression and opportunistic exploitation, near-field sensing, and the development of dynamically reconfigurable platforms. It will also examine the role of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) in supporting ISAC tasks and enhancing overall system functionality.