Research Projects

In the quest for optimal resource utilization for fifth-generation (5G) and beyond networks, the simultaneous data transfer and the estimation of user/target location parameters, referred as simultaneous communication and localization (SCAL) has garnered significant attention by the wireless research community in both industry and academia. Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), i.e., drones have been realized as low-cost solution to enhance communication and localization capabilities in cellular networks especially in limited coverage scenarios. However, the strong Doppler shifts induced with UAV dynamics can severely disrupt the orthogonality of subcarriers (causing inter-carrier interference) in widely used orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. A novel physical layer transmission scheme called orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) modulation has been recently explored which is found to be superior than OFDM especially under multipath and high Doppler effects . This project aims to investigate a UAV-assisted OTFS-based framework, leveraging its robustness against channel impairments i. e., multi-path and high Doppler effects, to enhance the adaptability and efficiency of SCAL applications in existing sub-6GHz communication framework. Specifically, the study envisions the realization of a cost-effective bi-static radar SCAL framework utilizing OTFS modulation in the sub-6Ghz spectrum. In this framework, a base station (BS) facilitates downlink communication with users, while a UAV, acting as an aerial node, performs joint localization, and tracking of moving non-cellular targets with echo signals. Instead of focusing on high-frequency bands, where attenuation is significant and echo signals become weak, the selection of the 5G FR1 band in this project offers a practical utilizing of OTFS and UAV for SCAL applications in mobile environment. Since OTFS is still in its early stages regarding regularization and standardization, the findings of this project can serve as a valuable case study for UAV-assisted OTFS implementation for early 6G deployment. These insights could play a pivotal role in shaping regulatory and standardization frameworks, positioning India as a global leader in the development and deployment of 6G technologies, and strengthening the nation’s technological sovereignty and innovation capacity It has the potential to promote backward compatibility and to significantly reduce carbon footprint, enhance energy efficiency, and promote scalability and sustainability, reinforcing India’s leadership in next-generation telecommunications. Key experiments will focus on bi-static radar SCAL frameworks, delay-Doppler domain signal analysis, and machine learning-based algorithms to enhance computational efficiency. The outcomes will be validated through simulations, hardware prototypes, and field demonstrations.