This paper studies a comprehensive framework for reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted integrated communication, sensing, and computation (ICSC) systems. To satisfy the critical need for low-latency sensing, we formulate a weighted latency minimization problem encompassing both multi-user equipment (UE) and simplified single-UE scenarios. To address the formulated non-convex problem in the multi-UE scenario, we decouple the original problem into two subproblems, where the computational and beamforming settings are optimized alternately. Specifically, for the computational settings, we derive a closed-form solution for the offloading volume and propose a low-complexity algorithm based on the bisection search method to optimize the edge computing resource allocation. Additionally, we employ two equivalent transformations to address the challenge posed by the non-convex sum-of-ratios form in the objective function (OF) of the subproblem related to active and passive beamforming. Several techniques are then combined to address these subproblems. To bridge the gap between theoretical assumptions and practical deployments, a robust design extension accounting for imperfect channel state information (CSI) is developed using statistical error modeling. Furthermore, a low-complexity algorithm that offers closed-form solutions is developed for the simplified single UE scenario. Finally, simulation results substantiate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.

The integration of sensing capabilities into communication systems, by sharing physical resources, has a significant potential for reducing spectrum, hardware, and energy costs while inspiring innovative applications. Cooperative networks, in particular, are expected to enhance sensing services by enlarging the coverage area and enriching sensing measurements, thus improving the service availability and accuracy. This paper proposes a cooperative integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) framework by leveraging information-bearing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals transmitted by access points (APs). Specifically, we propose a two-stage scheme for target localization, where communication signals are reused as sensing reference signals based on the system information shared at the central processing unit (CPU). In Stage I, we propose a two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D-FFT)-based algorithm to measure the ranges of scattered paths induced by targets, through the extraction of delay and Doppler information from the sensing channels between APs. Then, the target locations are estimated in Stage II based on these range measurements. Considering the potential occurrence of ill-conditioned measurements with large error during the extraction of time-frequency information, we propose an efficient algorithm to match the range measurements with the targets while eliminating ill-conditioned measurements, achieving high-accuracy target localization. In addition, based on the transmission configurations defined in the fifth generation (5G) standards, we elucidate the performance trade-offs in both communication and sensing, and extend the proposed sensing scheme for general scenarios. Finally, numerical results confirm the effectiveness of our sensing scheme and the cooperative gain of the ISAC framework.

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled wireless power transfer (WPT) systems offer significant advantages in coverage and deployment flexibility, but suffer from endurance limitations due to the limited onboard energy. This article proposes to improve the energy efficiency of UAV-enabled WPT systems with multiple ground sensors by utilizing reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). Specifically, the total energy consumption of the UAV is minimized, while meeting the energy requirement of each sensor. First, we consider a fly-hover-broadcast (FHB) protocol, in which the UAV radiates radio-frequency (RF) signals only at several hovering locations. The energy minimization problem is formulated to jointly optimize the UAV’s trajectory, hovering time, and the RIS’s reflection coefficients. To solve this complex nonconvex problem, we propose an efficient algorithm. Specifically, the successive convex approximation (SCA) framework is adopted to jointly optimize the UAV’s trajectory and hovering time, in which a minorization–maximization (MM) algorithm that maximizes the minimum charged energy of all sensors is provided to update the reflection coefficients. Then, we investigate the general scenario in which the RF signals are radiated during the flight, aiming to minimize the total energy consumption of the UAV by jointly optimizing the UAV’s trajectory, flight time, and the RIS’s reflection coefficients. By applying the path discretization (PD) protocol, the optimization problem is formulated with a finite number of variables. A high-quality solution for this more challenging problem is obtained. Finally, our simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and the benefits of RIS in energy saving.

The implementation of full-duplex (FD) theoretically doubles the spectral efficiency of cellular communications. We propose a multiuser FD cellular network relying on an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS). The IRS is deployed to cover a dead zone while suppressing user-side self-interference (SI) and co-channel interference (CI) by carefully tuning the phase shifts of its massive low-cost passive reflection elements. To ensure network fairness, we aim to maximize the weighted minimum rate (WMR) of all users by jointly optimizing the precoding matrix of the base station (BS) and the reflection coefficients of the IRS. Specifically, we propose a low-complexity minorization-maximization (MM) algorithm for solving the subproblems of designing the precoding matrix and the reflection coefficients, respectively. Simulation results confirm the convergence and efficiency of our proposed algorithm, and validate the advantages of introducing IRS to realize FD cellular communications.