ATIS Next G Alliance study introduces 6G possibilities for uncrewed systems

ATIS’ Next G Alliance (NGA) has published a study of 6G communication channels and joint communication and sensing (JCAS)/integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) channel models. Midbands, mmWave, and sub-THz spectrum bands are also covered in the report.

JCAS/ISAC is one of the key new features for 6G where existing telecommunication infrastructure is also used for RF sensing without requiring an active transmission from targets to be sensed. JCAS/ISAC introduces new use cases and unleashes broad possibilities for uncrewed systems, as well as other sectors. 

Given the different requirements for communications and sensing applications, to produce a channel model that meets the requirements for JCAS applications, the alliance proposes characterising separate models for environment classes (urban, suburban, office, factory, etc.) and for target classes (humans, vehicles, uncrewed aerial systems, robots, etc.). That way, the channel can be represented by the collection of rays from the environment clusters plus the rays from the target clusters.

Specific to joint communication and sensing modeling, based on extensive measurements performed by NGA members, the report includes multiple sensing target models and an indoor background clutter model for monostatic sensing.

Deployment of 6G in the new mid-band spectrum between 7 and 24 GHz, along with JCAS/ISAC across all bands, is expected to play a crucial role in 6G systems.