The proposed PhD study focuses on the integration of sensing and communication (ISAC) functionalities in next-generation wireless networks. According to this new ISAC paradigm, communication networks should be “spatially aware”, i.e. capable of autonomously retrieving information regarding their operating context and/or physical environment, such as the positions/velocity of end-user terminals and non-connected objects, the room shape, the presence of obstacles… On the other hand, future networks are also expected to be less centralized but more cooperative, while aiming at lower latency, better adaptability to users’ actual needs, and better resilience against local service outages.

In this PhD program, we ambition to explore and evaluate new distributed forms of ISAC. First, cooperative localization, detection and mapping algorithms will be specifically designed, taking advantage of the multiple radio transmissions between mobile users and/or with respect to serving base stations. These algorithms will have to guarantee good spatial resolution, while being adapted to the specific features of massively distributed and scalable networks. Another objective will be to reduce the impact of these new functions on the underlying communication service, by means of optimized resource allocation (power, time, frequency, etc.) and signalling strategies. Finally, new communication schemes based on the acquired location and sensing information will be investigated (e.g. dynamic and proactive association mechanisms, jointly exploiting the predicted positions of users and moving obstacles). Among the various tools and methods envisaged for solving the above multi-objective optimisation problems, machine learning-based approaches will be taken into consideration.

These algorithmic proposals will be validated through both realistic synthetic simulations and experimental data. The latter will be collected in the frame of dedicated field measurement campaigns, conducted by another lab at CEA-Leti with unique hardware capabilities (including a wideband multi-point radio channel sounder, as well as several prototypes of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, both developed at CEA-Leti).

This PhD will be conducted in a stimulating, international, and multi-disciplinary working environment, at the crossroads between academic and industrial R&D communities, while combining exploratory research and more applied developments. Finally, while working in the frame of a collaborative European research project, the candidate will also benefit from technical inputs and scientific interactions with numerous research teams, inside and outside CEA.

The expected outcomes of this research may contribute to the specification of future communication networks, paving the way for tighter interactions with the physical environment, as well as for frugality in terms of global resources consumption.

To know more:
- https://www.leti-cea.fr/cea-tech/leti/Pages/recherche-appliquee/solutions-technologiques/communication-sans-fil-reseaux.aspx
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoit-denis-cea/