VaporISAC: Integrated Sensing and Communication via Molecular Signals

2026-07-17

AI Summary

This work addresses the severe performance limitations of conventional electromagnetic integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems in obstructed, cluttered, or radio-frequency-hostile environments. To overcome these constraints, the paper proposes VaporISAC—a novel framework that pioneers the integration of macro-scale molecular communication into ISAC by leveraging chemical vapor pulses to achieve dual functionality: simultaneous environmental sensing and information transmission. By eliminating reliance on electromagnetic signals, VaporISAC operates effectively in infrastructure-scarce, electromagnetically constrained, and chemically dynamic scenarios. Through a co-designed approach encompassing joint signal processing, environmental parameter inversion, and a dedicated system architecture, the framework demonstrates robust capabilities in concurrently sensing airflow, turbulence, smoke, and chemical conditions while maintaining reliable communication, thereby establishing a new paradigm for non-electromagnetic ISAC.

Abstract

Conventional electromagnetic (EM)-based integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems degrade in cluttered, obstructed, and radio-frequency-hostile environments, while macroscopic molecular communication (MC) remains largely unexplored as an ISAC medium. This article introduces VaporISAC, a molecular ISAC framework in which chemical vapor pulses simultaneously convey information and probe the propagation environment, enabling a one signal, two outputs paradigm. The same received waveform is jointly processed to recover transmitted information and infer environmental properties such as airflow, turbulence, smoke, and chemical conditions. Rather than replacing conventional EM-based ISAC, VaporISAC complements existing approaches in chemically dynamic, infrastructure-limited, and EM-challenged environments. The sensing principles, system architecture, proof-of-concept demonstrations, emerging applications, and open research challenges of VaporISAC are presented, positioning it as a promising new paradigm for resilient communication and environmental sensing.

Problem

• Integrated Sensing and Communication
• Molecular Communication
• Electromagnetic-hostile environments
• Chemical vapor sensing
• Resilient communication

Innovation

• Molecular Communication
• Integrated Sensing and Communication
• Chemical Vapor
• Environmental Sensing
• VaporISAC