Integrated Sensing and Edge AI: Realizing Intelligent Perception in 6G

2025-01-12

AI Summary

To address the task-efficiency bottleneck arising from the fragmentation of communication, sensing, and edge AI in 6G networks, this paper proposes a Task-Oriented Intelligent Sensing and Execution Architecture (ISEA)—the first systematic framework natively integrating sensing, computing, and communication. Methodologically, it establishes a task-driven design principle, introduces a joint performance metric and multi-dimensional trade-off mechanism, and synergistically incorporates key 6G enablers—including digital air interfaces, over-the-air computation, advanced signal processing, and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). This enables ultra-low-latency sensing and dynamic evolution of edge AI models. The main contributions include a comprehensive technical system spanning architectural design, standardization progress, representative use cases, and future directions—such as foundation model integration and microsecond-scale ISEA—thereby providing both theoretical foundations and practical pathways for 6G intelligent-native networks. (149 words)

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion
• Humans and AI: Brain-Sensing and Analysis
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Agent Architectures

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Applied ML and AI for Web-based mobile applications
• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Personalized, context-aware and across-device search

Abstract

Sensing and edge artificial intelligence (AI) are envisioned as two essential and interconnected functions in sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks. On the one hand, sensing-empowered applications rely on powerful AI models to extract features and understand semantics from ubiquitous wireless sensors. On the other hand, the massive amount of sensory data serves as the fuel to continuously refine edge AI models. This deep integration of sensing and edge AI has given rise to a new task-oriented paradigm known as integrated sensing and edge AI (ISEA), which features a holistic design approach to communication, AI computation, and sensing for optimal sensing-task performance. In this article, we present a comprehensive survey for ISEA. We first provide technical preliminaries for sensing, edge AI, and new communication paradigms in ISEA. Then, we study several use cases of ISEA to demonstrate its practical relevance and introduce current standardization and industrial progress. Next, the design principles, metrics, tradeoffs, and architectures of ISEA are established, followed by a thorough overview of ISEA techniques, including digital air interface, over-the-air computation, and advanced signal processing. Its interplay with various 6G advancements, e.g., new physical-layer and networking techniques, are presented. Finally, we present future research opportunities in ISEA, including the integration of foundation models, convergence of ISEA and integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and ultra-low-latency ISEA.

Problem

• 6G Network
• Edge AI
• Perception Technology Integration

Innovation

• Integrated Sensing, Edge AI (ISEA)
• 6G networks
• over-the-air computation