Sensing capabilities of 6G networks will transform industries

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has shed light on the expected sensing capabilities of future 6G networks.

A report produced by ETSI focusing on Integrated Sensing And Communications (ISAC) details 18 advanced use cases that leverage the fusion of sensing and communication technologies to enable a more context-aware, efficient, and responsive digital world.

Alain Mourad, Chair of ISAC ISG at ETSI, said: “This first report on advanced ISAC use cases and requirements sets the foundations for ISAC’s forthcoming specifications in 6G. I’m delighted that this GR has been released on time for further consideration by specification groups such as 3GPP SA1 in their work toward 6G.”

ISAC represents a paradigm shift where wireless networks not only transmit data but also actively perceive their surrounding environment. By integrating sensing capabilities directly into the communications infrastructure, future 6G systems promise to unlock a wealth of applications previously confined to the realm of science fiction.

This integration aims to utilise the same radio signals, and potentially the same spectrum and hardware, for both communication and sensing tasks. This will enable significant technological and societal benefits spanning critical sectors including healthcare, public safety, transportation, robotics, smart factories, and smart cities.

Transforming industries with sensing powered by 6G networks

Imagine a world where your 6G network actively contributes to your wellbeing and safety. The report explores healthcare use cases – such as outdoor healthcare sensing and monitoring – where base stations could track vital signs like heart rate and breathing patterns in public spaces, potentially alerting emergency services during incidents like falls or sudden medical episodes.

Another case involves remotely controlled robots for senior citizen monitoring and care, acting as avatars for family members and providing companionship and health support through sophisticated sensing and interaction capabilities. Even emergency search and rescue operations could be revolutionised, using mobile devices equipped with ISAC to locate individuals buried under rubble or snow by detecting micro-movements from heartbeat and breathing.

Transportation is another sector that stands to gain from the sensing capabilities of future 6G networks.

The report details vision-aided smart traffic management – combining ISAC RF sensing with camera data – to obtain a richer understanding of traffic density, vehicle types, and pedestrian presence. Improving traffic throughput and safety on road intersections is a key focus, using ISAC to replace or augment traditional sensors like inductive loops and enable smarter traffic light scheduling.

The safe operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for transport is also addressed, proposing ISAC as a crucial secondary system to verify UAV location data independently of vulnerable GNSS to enhance airspace safety for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLoS) operations.

In the industrial sphere, ISAC promises enhanced automation and precision.

Collaborative robots based on digital twinning envisions robots working together on complex tasks, guided by a digital twin that uses 6G sensing for precise environmental mapping and coordination. Precise localisation for robot grasping focuses on enabling robots to identify and handle objects with extreme accuracy, crucial for manufacturing and construction.

Furthermore, Real-time Cyber-Physical Systems (R-CPS) in industrial worksites could allow skilled workers to remotely operate robots in hazardous environments or perform highly precise tasks, enhanced by fused sensor data and ultra-reliable, low-latency communication.

Requirements and challenges

To bring these visions to life, the ETSI report consolidates potential requirements and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that 6G systems must meet.

These span demanding metrics for positioning accuracy (down to millimetre-level for some applications), velocity estimation, sensing resolution, latency (potentially sub-millisecond for real-time control), reliability, and the probability of missed detections or false alarms. New KPIs, such as ‘Fine Motion Accuracy’ for detecting subtle movements like vibrations or breathing, are also introduced.

The report analyses various deployment scenarios, from indoor offices and factories to outdoor urban canyons and highways, considering different mobility levels and coverage conditions (including out-of-coverage operation for specific cases like emergency rescue). It also considers the suitability of different frequency bands (Sub-6 GHz, 7-24 GHz, >24 GHz), noting that higher frequencies generally offer better resolution but suffer higher path loss, often making multi-band approaches beneficial.   

Six unique sensing modes (variations of monostatic and bistatic operations involving base stations (TRPs) and user equipment (UEs)) are discussed, recommending support for all modes to maximise flexibility and performance. Similarly, different integration levels – from loose coordination to tightly integrated joint waveform designs – are considered, acknowledging that the optimal level may depend on the specific use case and potential trade-offs.   

However, significant challenges remain. Enabling fine-scale motion detection, ensuring the extreme low latency and synchronisation needed for real-time cyber-physical systems and human-robot interaction, and achieving robust performance in diverse and difficult propagation environments require further innovation.

Data fusion from multiple sources (6G and non-6G sensors like cameras or LiDAR), distributed sensing techniques, and the application of AI/ML are identified as key enabling technologies needing development.

Recommendations for the path forward

The report concludes by formulating crucial recommendations for the path forward. It calls for further work on ISAC channel modelling (including RCS, micro-Doppler, and near-field effects), measurements, and evaluation methodologies to accurately assess feasibility. Development of system and Radio Access Network (RAN) architectures capable of supporting the diverse deployment scenarios, sensing modes, and integration levels is paramount.   

Crucially, the report highlights the need for dedicated studies on the security, privacy, trustworthiness, and sustainability aspects of ISAC.

“With nine of the eighteen use cases having the primary goal to sense humans and six others dealing with sensing in the presence of humans, the need for this study becomes apparent,” the report states. 

Ensuring user consent, data anonymisation where appropriate, protection against unauthorised access, and building trustworthy systems are essential for public acceptance and regulatory compliance.

ETSI’s foundational work on ISAC use cases provides a critical roadmap, outlining both the immense potential and the necessary steps required to integrate sensing seamlessly into the fabric of future 6G networks.

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Tags: 6g, connectivity, etsi, isac, mobile, Networks, telecoms, wireless