Secure High-Resolution ISAC via Multi-Layer Intelligent Metasurfaces: A Layered Optimization Framework

2026-02-16

AI Summary

This work addresses the challenge of simultaneously achieving high-resolution sensing, communication security, and spectral efficiency in integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems. To this end, we propose a multi-layer optimization framework based on stacked intelligent metasurfaces (SIMs), which unifies secure communication and high-precision sensing into a single multi-objective formulation under practical hardware constraints. A hierarchical block coordinate descent algorithm is developed to jointly optimize sensing configurations, robust secure beamforming, metasurface tuning, and resource allocation. Compared to conventional approaches, the proposed scheme achieves a 32–61% improvement in sensing accuracy and a 15–35% gain in secrecy rate, all while maintaining computational efficiency. This study presents the first demonstration of synergistic gains among sensing performance, security, and spectral efficiency enabled by SIMs.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Metareasoning and Metaheuristics
• Intelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Applied ML and AI for Web-based mobile applications
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Efficiency and scalability of Web search engines

Abstract

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has emerged as a pivotal technology for next-generation wireless networks, enabling simultaneous data transmission and environmental sensing. However, existing ISAC systems face fundamental limitations in achieving high-resolution sensing while maintaining robust communication security and spectral efficiency. This paper introduces a transformative approach leveraging stacked intelligent metasurfaces (SIM) to overcome these challenges. We propose a multi-functional SIM-assisted system that jointly optimizes communication secrecy and sensing accuracy through a novel layered optimization framework. Our solution employs a multi-objective optimization formulation that balances secrecy rate maximization with sensing error minimization under practical hardware constraints. The proposed layered block coordinate descent algorithm efficiently coordinates sensing configuration, secure beamforming, communication metasurface optimization, and resource allocation while ensuring robustness to channel uncertainties. Extensive simulations demonstrate significant performance gains over conventional approaches, achieving 32-61\% improvement in sensing accuracy and 15-35\% enhancement in secrecy rates while maintaining computational efficiency. This work establishes a new paradigm for secure and high-precision multi-functional wireless systems.

Problem

• Integrated Sensing and Communication
• High-Resolution Sensing
• Communication Security
• Spectral Efficiency
• Intelligent Metasurfaces

Innovation

• Intelligent Metasurfaces
• Integrated Sensing and Communication
• Secure Beamforming
• Layered Optimization
• Multi-Objective Optimization