Spherical RIS-Enabled Channel Estimation and User Self-Localization for ISAC Systems

In this paper, we investigate the channel estimation and user localization problems for multi-user integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems empowered by the reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) technology. In order to perceive environmental information more deeply, we propose a spherical RIS architecture with spherically arranged unit cells. Based on the principle of phase mode excitation, we customize the design of RIS profiles and recover the equivalent channel parameters via subspace estimation tools. By exploring the characteristics of RIS array manifold and free-space propagation, we develop a decoupling framework of three-dimensional channel parameters, which is not supported by conventional planar RIS topologies. Each user can achieve a self-localization by analyzing the signals transmitted from other active users. Simulation results indicate that the spherical RIS can enable joint channel estimation, user localization and data transmission with remarkable performance that approaches the theoretical Cramér-Rao bounds.