Integrated Sensing, Communication, and Powering: Toward Multi-Functional 6G Wireless Networks

This article presents a novel multi-functional system for sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks with integrated sensing, communication, and powering (ISCAP), which unifies integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) and wireless information and power transfer (WIPT) techniques. The multi-functional ISCAP network promises to enhance resource utilization efficiency, reduce network costs, and improve overall performance through versatile operational modes. Specifically, a multi-functional base station (BS) can enable multi-functional transmissions by exploiting the same radio signals to perform target/environment sensing, wireless communication, and wireless power transfer (WPT) simultaneously. In addition, the three functions can be intelligently coordinated to pursue mutual benefits; that is, wireless sensing can be leveraged to enable light-training or even training-free WIPT by providing side-channel information, and the BS can utilize WPT to wirelessly charge low-power devices for ensuring sustainable ISAC. Furthermore, multiple multi-functional BSs can cooperate in both transmission and reception phases for efficient interference management, multi-static sensing, and distributed energy beamforming. For these operational modes, we discuss the technical challenges and potential solutions, particularly focusing on the fundamental performance trade-off limits, transmission protocol design, and waveform and beamforming optimization. Finally, interesting research directions are identified.