ISAC – Turning 6G Networks into Invisible Sensors
Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) uses the same 6G radio signals that carry data to simultaneously sense the environment – giving networks a form of “electromagnetic vision” for security, automation, and safety.
ISAC enables sensing in darkness, smoke, fog, and behind thin walls – using radio waves already in the air. No cameras or LiDAR are required.
How ISAC Works – Simple and Deep
6G transforms wireless infrastructure into a real-time sensing fabric.
Wireless Waves as “Invisible Lighting”
The world is already filled with wireless signals – 6G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mmWave and THz. When the environment is still, the radio channel remains stable. When something moves, these signals bend, scatter, reflect and shift in frequency.
ISAC measures these changes as Channel State Information (CSI) – amplitude, phase, delay, Doppler and multipath – and converts them into machine-readable motion signatures.
Motion changes path lengths, reflection angles and timing – 6G captures these changes with millimetre-level sensitivity.
Why Humans & Objects Are So Detectable
- The human body (around 70% water) strongly absorbs and scatters RF energy.
- Walking, running and crawling create rhythmic Doppler patterns.
- Limbs produce micro-Doppler – fine-grained signatures of gait, gesture and posture.
- Metals and vehicles act like mirrors – producing sharp reflections and long multipath tails.
This enables sensing of presence, activity, breathing, vehicles and metal objects using only radio signals.
Human, Metal & Vehicle Sensing with RF
From breathing and gestures to vehicle Doppler and metal signatures.
Human Sensing
- Walking: periodic up–down motion, medium Doppler.
- Running: rapid changes, high Doppler energy, sharp peaks.
- Crawling: ground-level multipath, slower ripples.
- Standing: almost flat signal with a simple presence-blocking effect.
- Breathing: THz bands can sense chest expansion (millimetre-level), enabling health and sleep monitoring.
Metal & Vehicle Detection
Metals cause strong reflections, sharp amplitude spikes and clear phase jumps. 6G ISAC can distinguish different object patterns:
- Knife-like object → narrow, sharp reflection spike.
- Compact metal item (pistol/phone) → broader fluctuations.
- Long object (rifle/tool) → long reflection tail.
- Vehicles → strong Doppler and long multipath trails.
This enables speed, direction and size estimation for vehicles, and classification of metal objects for security and safety use cases.
CSI – The Sensing “Language” of 6G
Channel State Information is the core data we analyse to enable ISAC.
What is CSI?
CSI describes exactly how the radio channel has changed between transmitter and receiver:
- Amplitude: signal strength variations
- Phase: wave rotation and interference
- Delay: path length differences
- Doppler: motion-induced frequency shifts
- Multipath: reflections from walls, floor and objects
In 6G, CSI is measured across hundreds to thousands of subcarriers and processed by AI and OTFS-like waveforms in the delay–Doppler domain.
Why 6G is the Perfect ISAC Platform
With cell-free massive MIMO and an AI-native PHY, 6G enables cooperative sensing, precise localisation and real-time tracking.
Our ISAC Toolkit & Lab Stack
From low-cost RF experiments to full 6G simulation and ML pipelines.
Software & RF Tools
- SDR# – RF visualisation for spectrum behaviour and Doppler effects.
- CSIKit – CSI loading, visualisation and motion signature analysis.
- Intel 5300 / Nexmon – practical CSI extractors for human motion and object sensing.
- Python + Jupyter – Doppler analysis, feature extraction and ML training.
- Grafana dashboards – ISAC command centre for perimeter sensing and intrusion analytics.
6G Simulation & Prototyping
VR Innovations uses Open5GS + srsRAN as a virtual 6G ISAC lab:
- Emulate RAN and core network behaviour.
- Generate OFDM reference signals and CSI.
- Inject Doppler, distance and multipath variations.
- Study multi-node cooperation and perimeter formation.
This allows ISAC concepts to be tested today, even before commercial 6G hardware is widely available.
ISAC Use Cases & Solutions
We design ISAC-powered solutions for:
3GPP 6G Roadmap for ISAC
ISAC is being standardised as a first-class capability in future 6G releases.
VR Innovations aligns its R&D and training programmes with this roadmap, preparing partners and teams for 6G ISAC research and deployments.
Co-create Your 6G ISAC Lab or Security Solution
Whether you need a prototype, a training programme or consultancy support, VR Innovations can design, simulate and implement it with you.