Research Projects

This proposal aims to develop a Joint Radar and Communication (RadCom) framework using sub-terahertz (Sub-THz) frequencies (0.1 to 0.3 THz) for the 6th generation (6G) wireless networks to meet the demand for ultra-high data rates and precision sensing, focusing on applications like autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and industrial automation. The proposal outlines major objectives, such as creating a reliable signal propagation model to address Sub-THz-specific challenges, designing advanced waveforms and beamforming techniques to support high mobility and high-speed data, and addressing various hardware limitations related to Sub-THz antennas and RF front-ends. The project will begin with detailed literature review, extensive signal and propagation channel modelling, and simulation of Sub-THz RadCom systems for various real world scenarios. Next, we will integrate sparse signal processing and compressive sensing-based techniques for wideband channel estimation, which are resilient to Doppler shifts and thus suitable for high-speed applications. Furthermore, we will develop wideband beamforming techniques which compensate for the spatial and frequency wideband effects arising due to large number of antennas and high bandwidth. More specifically, DPP-based beamforming strategies will be developed, combining analog and hybrid methods tailored for massive MIMO systems. The project incorporates AI and ML for object detection and classification, exploring the fusion of multiple sensing modalities, such as camera data and radio, to enhance environmental modeling and create digital twins. Various 3GPP-standardized reference signals and shared data channels of 5G will be explored for Sub-THz RadCom. Network-level techniques, protocols, and architectures that optimize the joint RadCom in multi-user, multi-cell, and cooperative network environments will also be designed. The project plans to deliver a working prototype using high-end software-defined radios (SDRs) and a wireless testbench to evaluate the Sub-THz ISAC performance of the various algorithms proposed in this project in real world scenarios with high levels of interference and multipath propagation, high-mobility scenarios (e.g., vehicular communication), and indoor and industrial settings with complex reflection and scattering environments. Expected outcomes include ultra-low latency (1 ms), high reliability (99.9999%), sub-meter range accuracy, and sub-meter/second-level velocity accuracy. The key takeaways from our research can be used toward commercializing Sub-THz RadCom technology for both short-range indoor and outdoor communication. The algorithms developed during the proposed work would be integrated into various similar initiatives taken by other Indian institutions like IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur and SAMEER. The possibility of publishing in international conferences and journals of high repute, and patenting novel techniques in the realm of 6G Sub-THz RadCom will also be explored.