How can mobile communication networks be extended beyond data transmission to actively perceive their physical environment? In a recent article published in npj Wireless Technology, a Nature portfolio journal, researchers at the Technische Universität Ilmenau and Fraunhofer IIS present a forward-looking technological approach that enables future mobile communication systems to operate as distributed sensing networks. Potential applications include safe mobility, protection of critical infrastructure and low-altitude airspace monitoring for reliable drone operations, to name but a few. The publication, entitled Distributed multisensor ISAC, is part of the special issue Integrated Sensing and Communication for a Sustainable Wireless Future and is available as open-access article: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44459-026-00041-2
Mobile communication networks as environmental sensors: TU Ilmenau advances a key enabling technology
Modern mobile communication networks primarily serve as high-performance data infrastructures that ensure fast and reliable data exchange between devices. The next generation of mobile communication technology (6G) aims to significantly improve these capabilities through new services, extremely high data rates, ultra-low latency, and more efficient use of radio resources.
Current networks lack intrinsic environmental awareness; they do not inherently sense objects or dynamics in their surroundings. This limitation is addressed by the concept of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which tightly couples communication and sensing functionalities. In ISAC-enabled systems, the same radio signals used for communication are also exploited to illuminate the environment, much like a radar network.
In their study, researchers from the Electronic Measurement Engineering and Signal Processing group at TU Ilmenau introduce a novel multi-sensor ISAC approach. A key feature is the cooperation of multiple radio nodes to estimate and track dynamic objects in three dimensions.
Lead author Prof. Reiner Thomä explains:
Our objective is to detect objects such as vehicles, pedestrians, and elements of the critical infrastructure, track their motion, and estimate their positions with high accuracy – all by leveraging existing cellular networks.
To this end, the team developed signal processing methods that extract meaningful sensing information from current network signals. This paves the way for a new service paradigm referred to as Sensing as a Service.
"We investigated how information from distributed sensors can be efficiently fused and how the acquired data can be hierarchically processed to achieve accurate localization and tracking, ultimately enabling a consistent representation of the environment,” Thomä adds.
A major advantage of the approach is that it relies on existing spectrum resources according to the scientist:
No additional frequency bands are required, which conserves resources and opens up a wide range of applications – from traffic management and security services to the protection of critical infrastructure – without the need for costly additional infrastructure.
ISAC technology is still at an early stage of development. Open challenges include robust signal processing under realistic conditions, such as interference and multipath propagation. In addition, legal and ethical aspects, particularly with regard to data protection and privacy, must be carefully addressed.
Nevertheless, the potential impact is significant, Thomä concludes:
This technology could fundamentally transform how cellular networks perceive and interact with the physical world in the coming years.
Original publication:
Thomä, R., Andrich, C., Döbereiner, M., Faramarzahangari, R., Gedschold, J., Colaco Miranda, M. F., Myint, S. J., Schieler, S., Schneider, C., Semper, S., Smeenk, C., Sommerkorn, G., Zhao, Z., Distributed multisensor ISAC. npj Wirel. Technol. 2, 22 (2026). doi.org/10.1038/s44459-026-00041-2
Contact
Prof. Reiner Thomä
Fachgebiet Elektronische Messtechnik und Signalverarbeitung