Dual-Chirp AFDM for Joint Delay-Doppler Estimation with Rydberg Atomic Quantum Receivers

In this paper, we propose a joint delay-Doppler estimation framework for Rydberg atomic quantum receivers (RAQRs) leveraging affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM), as a future enabler of hyper integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) in 6G and beyond. The proposed approach preserves the extreme sensitivity of RAQRs, while offering a pioneering solution to the joint estimation of delay-Doppler parameters of mobile targets, which has yet to be addressed in the literature due to the inherent coupling of time-frequency parameters in the optical readout of RAQRs to the best of our knowledge. To overcome this unavoidable ambiguity, we propose a dual-chirp AFDM framework where the utilization of distinct chirp parameters effectively converts the otherwise ambiguous estimation problem into a full-rank system, enabling unique delay-Doppler parameter extraction from RAQRs. Numerical simulations verify that the proposed dual-chirp AFDM shows superior delay-Doppler estimation performance compared to the classical single-chirp AFDM over RAQRs.

Environment-aware Near-field UE Tracking under Partial Blockage and Reflection

This paper proposes an environment-aware near-field (NF) user equipment (UE) tracking method for extremely large aperture arrays. By integrating known surface geometries and tracking the line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) indicators per antenna element, the method captures partial blockages and reflections specific to the NF spherical-wavefront regime, which are unavailable under the conventional far-field (FF) assumption. The UE positions are tracked by maximizing the cosine similarity between the predicted and received channels, enabling tracking even under complete LOS obstruction. Simulation results confirm that increasing environment-awareness improves accuracy, and that NF consistently outperforms FF baselines, achieving a $0.22\,\mathrm{m}$ root-mean-square error with full environment-awareness.

Continuous-Time Analysis of AFDM: Fundamental Bounds, and Effects of Pulse-Shaping and Hardware Impairments

Affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) has recently emerged as a resilient waveform candidate for high-mobility next-generation wireless systems. However, current literature mostly focuses on discrete time (DT) models, often overlooking effects and hardware non-idealities of actual continuous time (CT) signal generation. In this paper, we bridge this gap by developing a CT-analytical framework based on the affine Fourier series (AFS) representation, which allows us to demonstrate that strictly bandlimited pulses and subcarrier suppression strategies are essential to maintain the multicarrier structure of the signal. In addition, we derive the analytical power spectral density of AFDM and evaluate its spectral characteristics in comparison with other multicarrier schemes, considering the impact of realistic truncated pulse-shaping. Furthermore, we analyze the sensitivity of the CT model to phase noise, carrier frequency offset, and sampling jitter, providing a theoretical analysis of communication performance. Finally, we derive closed-form Cramér-Rao bounds for channel parameter estimation, showing that the chirped modulation peculiar of AFDM increases the estimation variance but enables the resolution of Doppler ambiguities. Our findings provide the necessary theoretical and practical foundations for the implementation of AFDM in realistic wireless transceivers.

AFDM: Evolving OFDM Towards 6G+

As the standardization of sixth generation (6G) wireless systems accelerates, there is a growing consensus in favor of evolutionary waveforms that offer new features while maximizing compatibility with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), which underpins the 4G and 5G systems. This article presents affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) as a premier candidate for 6G, offering intrinsic robustness for both high-mobility communications and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) in doubly dispersive channels, while maintaining a high degree of synergy with the legacy OFDM. To this end, we provide a comprehensive analysis of AFDM, starting with a generalized fractional-delay-fractional-Doppler (FDFD) channel model that accounts for practical pulse shaping filters and inter-sample coupling. We then detail the AFDM transceiver architecture, demonstrating that it reuses nearly the entire OFDM pipeline and requires only lightweight digital pre- and post-processing. We also analyze the impact of hardware impairments, such as phase noise and carrier frequency offset, and explore advanced functionalities enabled by the chirp-parameter domain, including index modulation and physical-layer security. By evaluating the reusability across the radio-frequency, physical, and higher layers, the article demonstrates that AFDM provides a low-risk, feature-rich, and efficient path toward achieving high-fidelity communications in the later versions of 6G and beyond (6G+).

Rigid Body Localization via Gaussian Belief Propagation with Quadratic Angle Approximation

Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP) is a technique that relies on linearized error and input-output models to yield low-complexity solutions to complex estimation problems, which has been recently shown to be effective in the design of range-based GaBP schemes for stationary and moving rigid body localization (RBL) in three-dimensional (3D) space, as long as an accurate prior on the orientation of the target rigid body is available. In this article we present a novel range-based RBL scheme via GaBP that removes the latter limitation. To this end, the proposed method incorporates a quadratic angle approximation to linearize the relative orientation between the prior and the target rigid body, enabling high precision estimates of corresponding rotation angles even for large deviations. Leveraging the resulting linearized model, we derive the corresponding message-passing (MP) rules to obtain estimates of the translation vector and rotation matrix of the target rigid body, relative to a prior reference frame. Numerical results corroborate the good performance of the proposed angle approximation itself, as well as the consequent RBL performance in terms of root mean square errors (RMSEs) in comparison to the state-of-the-art (SotA), while maintaining a low computational complexity

The IEEE Signal Processing Society's Leading Role in Developing Standards for Computational Imaging and Sensing: Part II

In every imaging or sensing application, the physical hardware creates constraints that must be overcome or they limit system performance. Techniques that leverage additional degrees of freedom can effectively extend performance beyond the inherent physical capabilities of the hardware. An example includes synchronizing distributed sensors so as to synthesize a larger aperture for remote sensing applications. An additional example is integrating the communication and sensing functions in a wireless system through the clever design of waveforms and optimized resource management. As these technologies mature beyond the conceptual and prototype phase they will ultimately transition to the commercial market. Here, standards play a critical role in ensuring success. Standards ensure interoperability between systems manufactured by different vendors and define industry best practices for vendors and customers alike. The Signal Processing Society of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) plays a leading role in developing high-quality standards for computational sensing technologies through the working groups of the Synthetic Aperture Standards Committee (SASC). In this column we highlight the standards activities of the P3383 Performance Metrics for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) Systems Working Group and the P3343 Spatio-Temporal Synchronization of a Synthetic Aperture of Distributed Sensors Working Group.

Chirp-Permuted AFDM: A New Degree of Freedom for Next-Generation Versatile Waveform Design

We present a novel multicarrier waveform, termed chirp-permuted affine frequency division multiplexing (CP-AFDM), which introduces a unique chirp-permutation domain on top of the chirp subcarriers of the conventional AFDM. Rigorous analysis of the signal model and waveform properties, supported by numerical simulations, demonstrates that the proposed CP-AFDM preserves all core characteristics of affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) - including robustness to doubly-dispersive channels, peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), and full delay-Doppler representation - while further enhancing ambiguity function resolution and peak-to-sidelobe ratio (PSLR) in the Doppler domain. These improvements establish CP-AFDM as a highly attractive candidate for emerging sixth generation (6G) use cases demanding both reliability and sensing-awareness. Moreover, by exploiting the vast degree of freedom in the chirp-permutation domain, two exemplary multifunctional applications are introduced: an index modulation (IM) technique over the permutation domain which achieves significant spectral efficiency gains, and a physical-layer security scheme that ensures practically perfect security through permutation-based keying, without requiring additional transmit energy or signaling overhead.

Metasurfaces-Integrated Doubly-Dispersive MIMO: Channel Modeling and Optimization

The doubly-dispersive (DD) channel structure has played a pivotal role in wireless communications, particularly in high-mobility scenarios and integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), due to its ability to capture the key fading effects experienced by a transmitted signal as it propagates through a dynamic medium. However, extending the DD framework to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, especially in environments artificially enhanced by reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) and stacked intelligent metasurfaces (SIM), remains a challenging open problem. In this chapter, a novel metasurfaces-parametrized DD (MPDD) channel model that integrates an arbitrary number of RISs, while also incorporating SIM at both the transmitter and receiver is introduced. Next, the application of this model to some key waveforms optimized for DD environments -- namely orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS), and affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) -- is discussed. Finally, the programmability of the proposed model is highlighted through an illustrative application, demonstrating its potential for enhancing waveform performance in SIM-assisted wireless systems.

A Flexible Design Framework for Integrated Communication and Computing Receivers

We propose a framework to design integrated communication and computing (ICC) receivers capable of simultaneously detecting data symbols and performing over-the-air computing (AirComp) in a manner that: a) is systematically generalizable to any nomographic function, b) scales to a massive number of user equipments (UEs) and edge devices (EDs), c) supports the computation of multiple independent functions (streams), and d) operates in a multi-access fashion whereby each transmitter can choose to transmit either data symbols, computing signals or both. For the sake of illustration, we design the proposed multi-stream and multi-access method under an uplink setting, where multiple single-antenna UEs/EDs simultaneously transmit data and computing signals to a single multiple-antenna base station (BS)/access point (AP). Under the communication functionality, the receiver aims to detect all independent communication symbols while treating the computing streams as aggregate interference which it seeks to mitigate; and conversely, under the computing functionality, to minimize the distortion over the computing streams while minimizing their mutual interference as well as the interference due to data symbols. To that end, the design leverages the Gaussian belief propagation (GaBP) framework relying only on element-wise scalar operations coupled with closed-form combiners purpose-built for the AirComp operation, which allows for its use in massive settings, as demonstrated by simulation results incorporating up to 200 antennas and 300 UEs/EDs. The efficacy of the proposed method under different loading conditions is also evaluated, with the performance of the scheme shown to approach fundamental limiting bounds in the under/fully loaded cases.

Affine Filter Bank Modulation: A New Waveform for High Mobility Communications

We propose a new waveform suitable for integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) systems facing doubly-dispersive (DD) channel conditions, as typically encountered in high mobility scenarios. Dubbed Affine Filter Bank Modulation (AFBM), this novel waveform is designed based on a filter-bank structure, known for its ability to suppress out-of-band emissions (OOBE), while integrating a discrete affine Fourier transform (DAFT) precoding stage which yields low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and robustness to DD distortion, as well as other features desirable for ISAC. Analytical and simulation results demonstrate that AFBM maintains quasi-orthogonality similar to that of affine frequency division multiplexing (AFDM) in DD channels, while achieving PAPR levels 3 dB lower, in addition to OOBE as low as -100 dB when implemented with PHYDYAS prototype filters.