An Overview on Integrated Sensing and Communication for Low altitude economy

The Low-altitude Internet of Things (IoT) develops rapidly, and the Low Altitude Economy is treated as a national strategic emerging industry. Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) for the Low Altitude Economy is expected to support more complex tasks in complex environments and provides a foundation for improved security, flexibility, and multi-application scenarios for drones. This paper presents an overview of ISAC for the Low Altitude Economy. The theoretical foundations of ISAC and the Low Altitude Economy are summarized, and the advantages of applying ISAC to the Low Altitude Economy are discussed. Potential applications of key 6G technologies, such as covert communication and Millimeter-Wave (mm-wave) systems in ISAC for the Low Altitude Economy, are examined. The key technical challenges of ISAC for the Low Altitude Economy in future development are also summarized.SignificanceThe integration of UAVs with ISAC technology is expected to provide considerable advantages in future development. When ISAC is applied, the overall system payload can be reduced, which improves UAV maneuverability and operational freedom. This integration offers technical support for versatile UAV applications. With ISAC, low-altitude network systems can conduct complex tasks in challenging environments. UAV platforms equipped with a single function do not achieve the combined improvement in communication and sensing that ISAC enables. ISAC-equipped drones are therefore expected to be used more widely in aerial photography, agriculture, surveying, remote sensing, and telecommunications. This development will advance related theoretical and technical frameworks and broaden the application scope of ISAC.ProgressISAC networks for the low-altitude economy offer efficient and flexible solutions for military reconnaissance, emergency disaster relief, and smart city management. The open aerial environment and dynamic deployment requirements create several challenges. Limited stealth increases exposure to hostile interception, and complex terrains introduce signal obstruction. High bandwidth and low latency are also required. Academic and industrial communities have investigated technologies such as covert communication, intelligent reflecting surfaces, and mm-wave communication to enhance the reliability and intelligence of ISAC in low-altitude operational scenarios.ConclusionsThis paper presents an overview of current applications, critical technologies, and ongoing challenges associated with ISAC in low-altitude environments. It examines the integration of emerging 6G technologies, including covert communication, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), and mm-wave communication within ISAC frameworks. Given the dynamic and complex characteristics of low-altitude operations, recent advances in UAV swarm power control algorithms and covert trajectory optimization based on deep reinforcement learning are summarized. Key unresolved challenges are also identified, such as spatiotemporal synchronization, multi-UAV resource allocation, and privacy preservation, which provide reference directions for future research.ProspectsISAC technology provides precise and reliable support for drone logistics, urban air mobility, and large-scale environmental monitoring in the low-altitude economy. Large-scale deployment of ISAC systems in complex and dynamic low-altitude environments remains challenging. Major obstacles include limited coordination and resource allocation within UAV swarms, spatiotemporal synchronization across heterogeneous devices, competing requirements between sensing and communication functions, and rising concerns regarding privacy and security in open airspace. These issues restrict the high-quality development of the low-altitude economy.