Optimized UAV Trajectory Design within Multi-Charging Station Scenario in the ISAC Framework
Kunj Kanzariya, Dhaval K. Patel · 2025
This study explores integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) in the airborne domain, utilizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as dual-function communication base stations and radars. We propose a comprehensive methodology for jointly optimizing communication and sensing performances through optimized UAV trajectory design and energy-aware operations within scenarios containing multiple charging stations. Our approach used a multi-stage trajectory design with real-time battery management and Sequential Quadratic Programming based optimization. The average communication data rate and Cramer-Rao bound of mean-square error are considered for deriving communication and sensing performance of optimized trajectories. We formulate a normalized tradeoff objective as a weighted sum optimization problem. An iterative algorithm obtains locally optimal UAV trajectories. Numerical results demonstrate how UAV paths are determined by the balance between communication and sensing objectives and energy constraints. Comparisons with single-function UAV scenarios highlight improvements in overall mission efficiency, showcasing the benefits of the ISAC-based approach.