AFDM-Enabled ISAC in Dynamic Environments: Fundamentals, Technologies and Opportunities

RESUMO

Dynamic environments pose fundamental challenges to integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), particularly due to severe Doppler effects, rapidly time-varying channels, and the intricate coupling between delay and Doppler shifts. Affine frequency-division multiplexing (AFDM), with its inherent capability of characterizing and separating delay and Doppler effects, has emerged as a promising waveform for dynamic ISAC. This article provides a comprehensive overview on AFDM-enabled ISAC in dynamic environments, covering its fundamental principles, distinctive advantages, representative application scenarios, and key enabling technologies. We first characterize the key features of ISAC in dynamic environments and introduce the fundamentals of AFDM, followed by an analysis of scenarios where AFDM can provide significant performance benefits. Then, several key enabling technologies for AFDM-based ISAC in dynamic environments are elaborated upon, accompanied by case studies on the critical aspects therein. Finally, open challenges and promising future research directions are discussed, aiming to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers and practitioners while inspiring further innovation in this emerging field.