Cognitive Radars for Integrated Sensing and Communication

Over the past fifteen years, “cognition” has become a transformative technology, enabling radar systems to incorporate learning and adaptivity at both transmission and reception stages to enhance performance in dynamic environments. At the core of cognitive radar systems is the “perception-action cycle”—a feedback mechanism between the receiver and transmitter that allows the radar to gather information about a target and its surroundings, then adjust transmissions to optimize one or more specific objectives. This adaptability allows the radar system to fine-tune its operations in real time to achieve desired goals.

Meanwhile, the Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) paradigm is an emerging framework that combines radar-based sensing and wireless communication into a unified system. Traditionally managed by separate systems, ISAC integrates these functions, enabling novel applications, improving resource efficiency, and reducing hardware costs and power consumption.

This talk will offer an overview of cognitive radar systems, discuss methods for modeling cognitive processes within these systems, and illustrate the role that radar cognition can play in ISAC applications. Concluding remarks will highlight future research directions and potential advancements in this field.