Toward ISAC-Empowered Vehicular Networks: Framework, Advances, and Opportunities

Connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) networks are facing several challenges, such as low throughput, high latency, and poor localization accuracy. These challenges severely impede the implementation of vehicular applications and driving safety in future 6G wireless networks. To alleviate these issues, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) is envisioned as a game-changing technology for future CAV networks. This article primarily presents a comprehensive overview on the application of ISAC techniques in vehicle-to-in-frastructure (V2I) networks. We cover the general system framework, representative advances, and a detailed case study on using the 5G New Radio (NR) waveform for sensing-assisted communications in V21 networks. Finally, we summarize and highlight open problems and opportunities in the field.