ISAC-based UAV direction-of-arrival estimation

Driven by the advancements in 6th Generation Mobile Communication (6G) systems, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) technology has become increasingly vital in the detection and management of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As a key driver of the low-altitude economy, UAVs introduce new demands for the capabilities of ISAC systems, in order to adapt to the needs of UAVs to perform diversified missions in complex low-altitude environments. In this paper, we explore the application of simultaneously transmitting and reflecting surface (STARS)-enabled ISAC systems for arrival estimation and propose a series of optimization methods to enhance system performance. By fine-tuning algorithm parameters and refining the iterative penalty rule, we significantly improve the communication quality and perception accuracy of the STARS system in practical scenarios. Experimental results demonstrate that these adjustments notably enhance the convergence speed and stability, which are critical for developing efficient and reliable ISAC systems. The development and application of these technologies will increase the role of UAVs in the low-altitude economy and provide strong support for future communications and sensing missions.