# A Survey on Fundamental Limits of Integrated Sensing and Communication

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2104.09954 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.09954/

## Key facts

- Cited by 19 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 16 Apr 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 19 of 19)

- [DeepSense 6G: A Large-Scale Real-World Multi-Modal Sensing and Communication Dataset](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.09769/) (2022)
- [Green Edge AI: A Contemporary Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.00333/) (2023)
- [RadioDiff-Inverse: Diffusion Enhanced Bayesian Inverse Estimation for ISAC Radio Map Construction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.14298/) (2025)
- [AutoQML: Automated Quantum Machine Learning for Wi-Fi Integrated Sensing and Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.09115/) (2022)
- [GDM4MMIMO: Generative Diffusion Models for Massive MIMO Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.18281/) (2024)
- [DeepSeek-Inspired Exploration of RL-based LLMs and Synergy with Wireless Networks: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.09956/) (2025)
- [Semantic Communications with Computer Vision Sensing for Edge Video Transmission](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.07252/) (2025)
- [RadioMamba: Breaking the Accuracy-Efficiency Trade-off in Radio Map Construction via a Hybrid Mamba-UNet](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.09140/) (2025)
- [Cross-domain Learning Framework for Tracking Users in RIS-aided Multi-band ISAC Systems with Sparse Labeled Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.06299/) (2024)
- [Deep Learning-based Techniques for Integrated Sensing and Communication Systems: State-of-the-Art, Challenges, and Opportunities](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.06968/) (2025)
- [Learning-Based Resource Management in Integrated Sensing and Communication Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.20849/) (2025)
- [Random Multiplexing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.24087/) (2025)
- [The Internet of Physical AI Agents: Interoperability, Longevity, and the Cost of Getting It Wrong](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.15900/) (2026)
- [Variational Source-Channel Coding for Semantic Communication](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.08222/) (2024)
- [When Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Meets Wireless Communications: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.06995/) (2026)
- [Resolving Multi-Target Association in OFDM-based ISAC via Vision-aided Multi-Modal Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.22195/) (2026)
- [AI-Empowered UAV-Assisted Backscatter Localization and ISAC for Zero-Energy IoT: A Comprehensive Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.23125/) (2026)
- [From Intent to Infrastructure: LLM-Driven Agent Compilers for ISAC Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.16269/) (2026)
- [SignalReasoner: Assessing the Upper Bound of 3B Models for Signal Mathematical Reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.17301/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

The integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), in which the sensing and communication share the same frequency band and hardware, has emerged as a key technology in future wireless systems. Early works on ISAC have been focused on the design, analysis and optimization of practical ISAC technologies for various ISAC systems. While this line of works are necessary, it is equally important to study the fundamental limits of ISAC in order to understand the gap between the current state-of-the-art technologies and the performance limits, and provide useful insights and guidance for the development of better ISAC technologies that can approach the performance limits. In this paper, we aim to provide a comprehensive survey for the current research progress on the fundamental limits of ISAC. Particularly, we first propose a systematic classification method for both traditional radio sensing (such as radar sensing and wireless localization) and ISAC so that they can be naturally incorporated into a unified framework. Then we summarize the major performance metrics and bounds used in sensing, communications and ISAC, respectively. After that, we present the current research progresses on fundamental limits of each class of the traditional sensing and ISAC systems. Finally, the open problems and future research directions are discussed.