Facilitating Edge Intelligence via Joint Computing, Communications, and Sensing

Edge intelligence has become indispensable for many applications of end users, as it provides AI services with low response time, high availability, and reduced communication overhead. However, edge intelligence does not only rely on an edge computing system. Instead, it also closely depend on the underlying communication network as well as the sensing capabilities in the edge computing system. Thus, to achieve best performance for edge intelligence, it is necessary to conduct edge computing, communication, and sensing (CCS) together. In this paper, joint CCS is studied by considering 6G networks as the communication network. First, a typical architecture is provided to show the key components of joint CCS and their close interactions. It also reveals the potential benefits of joint CCS for supporting various applications of edge intelligence. Second, the state-of-the-art research results on joint design between edge computing, communications, and sensing are presented. Next, the remaining challenges in joint CCS are identified. Finally, future research directions are highlighted, in the hope of stimulating research interests in creating the most effective infrastructure for edge intelligence.