arXiv subjects

Ali Arshad Nasir

Publications and source records attributed to Ali Arshad Nasir.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Knowledge-Centric Communication For Autonomous Cislunar Networks

Future lunar infrastructure requires communication as a persistent service rather than a mission specific capability. Communication, digital twin, and artificial intelligence (AI) research have advanced autonomy independently while largely assuming that system state can eventually be reconciled with ground truth. Cislunar communication violates this assumption because propagation delay is fundamentally limited by the speed of light, visibility is governed by orbital geometry, and autonomous decisions often precede confirming observations. Here we introduce a knowledge-centric communication framework in which a digital twin continuously integrates delayed observations, communication physics, learned models, uncertainty quantification, and mission objectives into an evolving Operational Knowledge State. To quantify what is known, how uncertain it remains, and how current it is, we define two quantities over the fused Bayesian belief maintained for each communication link: \emph{Knowledge Entropy}, the differential entropy of the posterior belief, and \emph{Knowledge Freshness}, which generalizes Age of Information (AoI) from a single information stream to the temporal validity of the fused Operational Knowledge State. We prove that distributed knowledge fusion systematically improves operational knowledge by reducing uncertainty and demonstrate its importance for mission success through simulations and comparisons with flight data from the Longjiang-2 lunar micro-satellite.

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arXiv2026

Structure-Exploiting ADMM for Low-Complexity Finite-Blocklength Beamforming in Cellular IoT Networks

Ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC) is essential for mission-critical cellular Internet of Things (IoT) applications requiring reliable short-packet transmission and efficient radio-resource allocation. However, finite-blocklength (FBL)-aware beamforming becomes computationally demanding as the numbers of users and antennas increase. Existing successive convex approximation (SCA) methods typically rely on general-purpose convex solvers without exploiting the structure of the resulting beamforming problem. This paper develops a structure-exploiting consensus alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) framework for low-complexity FBL-aware beamforming in downlink multi-user multiple-input single-output (MU-MISO) cellular IoT networks. The FBL sum rate is maximized subject to transmit-power and per-user minimum-rate constraints. Each SCA iteration yields a convex quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP), reformulated into an equivalent consensus problem. For an M-antenna base station serving N IoT nodes, the global update exploits Kronecker structure to replace an MN-by-MN factorization with a shared M-by-M factorization, while rank-one channel matrices enable low-complexity local projections. CVX-SCA serves as a general-purpose benchmark, whereas standard ADMM-SCA isolates the gains from structural exploitation. Numerical results demonstrate close agreement with CVX-SCA in objective value, feasibility, and convergence. Under user scaling, the proposed method achieves more than 4-fold end-to-end speedup over CVX-SCA and approximately 6-fold per-iteration speedup over standard ADMM-SCA, demonstrating its computational efficiency for cellular IoT resource allocation.

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arXiv2026

PRISM: Decision-Centric Predictive Sensing for Cognitive Digital Twins in 6G

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) and Digital Twin (DT) technology have emerged as complementary for future wireless networks that require autonomous operations involving continuous interaction between physical and digital worlds. However, existing DT-assisted ISAC frameworks sense continuously and indiscriminately while optimizing only a single task, leaving little room for persistent, multi-domain knowledge or proactive sensing control. This article proposes a Predictive, Reasoning-driven, Intelligent Sensing Module (PRISM) engine that transforms the DT from a passive, domain-specific optimizer into a persistent, network-wide reasoning system. PRISM enables decision-centric predictive perception, proactively directing sensing toward anticipated decisions needs rather than following fixed sensing schedules. Using an illustrative extremely large multiple-input multiple-output (XL-MIMO) deployment scenario with a mixed eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC device population, we show how this principle benefits visibility-region sensing for channel acquisition and supports slice-aware operation. Preliminary simulations, including this deployment scenario and the resulting knowledge error, overhead, and latency results, confirm that this decision-centric approach substantially reduces sensing overhead while preserving decision reliability and latency, supporting the proposed architecture as a practical step toward self-aware, autonomously orchestrated 6G networks.

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arXiv2026

GenAI-Enhanced Digital Twins for Predictive Interference Management in Ultra-Dense Networks

Ultra-dense indoor next-generation networks suffer severe interference from mobility-induced blockages and localized multi-user hotspots that conventional digital twins~(DTs) cannot anticipate. We propose a generative AI~(GenAI)-enhanced DT framework employing a conditional generative adversarial network~(cGAN) with a spatio-temporal generator and PatchGAN discriminator for proactive rare-event channel synthesis. A worst-case zero-forcing~(WC-ZF) beamformer driven by Monte Carlo synthetic trajectories realizes distributionally robust precoding, with control-channel overhead bounded to $\approx$2.1\,kB per 10\,ms slot. Sionna-based simulations confirm a 5--8\,dB median signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR) gain, 60--70\% packet-loss reduction, and 60--85\% closure of the perfect channel state information (CSI) oracle gap within a 2.8--4.1\,ms inference overhead.

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arXiv2026

Redefining Digital Twins as Predictive Decision Engines for AI-Native Wireless Networks

Future artificial intelligence (AI)-native 6G networks require wireless systems that move beyond reactive optimization toward autonomous, predictive, and continuously adaptive intelligence. Most existing digital twin (DT) frameworks use AI only to improve modeling, data generation, or isolated optimization tasks, leaving the DT itself in a passive, synchronization-only role. This article redefines the DT as a predictive decision engine, which is model-agnostic framework that fuses continuous synchronization, predictive reasoning, autonomous decision-making, and closed-loop wireless control into a single system. Reasoning over synchronized network state, the framework anticipates future conditions and acts autonomously before performance degrades, using generative adversarial networks (GANs), large language models (LLMs), diffusion models, or other learning-based engines interchangeably as the underlying predictor. An illustrative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted non-terrestrial network (NTN) deployment, using a lightweight conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) as one illustrative predictor, demonstrates the practical effectiveness of the proposed framework by achieving considerable energy savings over reactive baselines while maintaining reliable quality of service (QoS) under highly dynamic conditions.

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arXiv2026

TDiR: Transformer based Diffusion for Image Restoration Tasks

Images captured in challenging environments often experience various types of degradation, such as noise, color cast, blur, and light scattering. These issues significantly lower image quality, thereby reducing their usefulness in downstream tasks such as object detection, mapping, and classification. Our transformer-based diffusion model was developed to address image restoration challenges and enhance the quality of degraded images. Our methodology is assessed across three primary image restoration tasks, including underwater enhancement, denoising, and deraining, utilizing five standard benchmarks. It is then compared to 18 state-of-the-art techniques, employing four evaluation metrics. Our results show that the diffusion model, combined with transformers, outperforms current methods. The findings highlight the effectiveness of diffusion models and transformers in improving degraded image quality, thereby broadening their application in downstream tasks that demand high-fidelity visual data

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arXiv2026

Cognitive Digital Twins for Self-Aware Channel Estimation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-based channel estimators silently degrade when propagation conditions drift from their training distributions. This letter proposes a model-agnostic cognitive digital twin (CDT) framework that combines a variational autoencoder (VAE) with latent activation monitoring to detect distribution drift and autonomously execute \textsc{continue}, \textsc{update}, or \textsc{retire} lifecycle actions without requiring ground-truth channel knowledge. The proposed framework is fully compatible with the AI-native lifecycle management envisioned in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Simulations over various channels demonstrate accurate drift detection and robust channel estimation, consistently outperforming conventional offline-trained deep learning estimators under moderate and severe channel drift.

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arXiv2026

Rate-Aware Quantum-Inspired Trajectory Learning for Interference-Limited Multi-UAV Networks

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can provide on-demand, high-capacity connectivity in disaster and normal situation. However, it faces a challenge of curse of dimensionality in trajectory optimization, where interference-limited environments and vast search spaces make real-time coordination computationally expensive. To overcome this challenge, we propose the Rate-Aware Quantum-Annealed Graph Condensation (RA-QAGC) scheme, which combines rate-aware graph abstraction with decentralized reinforcement learning to enable scalable, interference-aware UAV coordination. By identifying high throughput locations and guiding UAV trajectory adaptation toward throughput-optimal regions, RA-QAGC effectively balances network capacity by maintaining quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. Simulation results demonstrate the proposal outperformed over existing schemes by achieving 59.4 Mbps total throughput and 23.9 Mbps priority-user throughput, representing gains of approximately 15% and 34%, respectively, over the baseline schemes.

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arXiv2026

Adaptive UAV Communications for URLLC: From Preplanned Designs to Real-Time Intelligence

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a key enabler of next-generation wireless networks, particularly for applications that require ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC), such as emergency response, industrial automation, and autonomous systems. In these scenarios, maintaining reliable connectivity under strict transmission time constraints is challenging due to dynamic environments, mobility, and limited onboard energy. In particular, communication performance and energy are closely coupled with UAV movement, making trajectory design a critical component of system operation. Most existing approaches rely on offline joint communication and trajectory optimization, where the UAV trajectory and communication parameters are optimized prior to execution based on assumed system information. Although effective under ideal assumptions, such designs cannot adapt to real-time variations in user demand, channel conditions, or environmental disturbances, which are particularly critical in URLLC settings. To address these challenges, this article investigates model predictive control (MPC) as an adaptive framework for UAV-enabled communications. Using a receding-horizon strategy, MPC enables the UAV to continuously update its trajectory based on real-time information, improving reliability and robustness in dynamic environments. Representative application scenarios are discussed to highlight the role of MPC in UAV-enabled URLLC systems. Furthermore, a case study is presented to illustrate key design trade-offs and performance insights under finite blocklength-based URLLC transmission, followed by a discussion on open challenges and future research directions for practical and scalable MPC-enabled UAV communication systems.

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arXiv2026

A Generative AI-Enhanced Digital Twin Framework for Proactive Interference Management in Hybrid Near/Far-Field Wireless Systems

The applications of Digital Twins (DT) and Generative AI (GenAI) have demonstrated their capabilities in modeling and learning-based wireless communications. However, their joint potential for proactive wireless system design remains largely underexplored, particularly in extremely large-scale multiple-input multiple-output (XL-MIMO) networks, characterized by hybrid near-field (NF) and far-field (FF) propagation regimes. In this work, we propose an integrated GenAI-enhanced DT framework for proactive interference management in dynamic indoor scenarios. The DT constructs a high-resolution, site-specific virtual replica of the deployment environment, understanding where and why blockage occurs within a realistic 3D representation of the indoor space. Integration of the GenAI module further assists the framework in anticipating and proactively suppressing blockage, rather than reacting after the disruption occurs. Extensive simulation results based on Sionna ray-tracing datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves significant improvements in interference suppression, signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), and outage probability compared to conventional reactive schemes and purely deterministic DT-based approaches.

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arXiv2026

Online Model Predictive Control for Trajectory and Beamforming Optimization in UAV-Enabled URLLC

This paper investigates joint trajectory and active beamforming design for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-enabled ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) systems under finite blocklength (FBL) transmission. Unlike conventional Shannon-capacity formulations, the FBL regime introduces a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)-dependent dispersion penalty that increases the sensitivity of reliability to mobility-induced channel variations. To address this challenge, we develop a propulsion-aware model predictive control (MPC) framework that performs receding-horizon joint trajectory and multi-user beamforming optimization while enforcing FBL-based rate constraints. The resulting long-horizon nonconvex problem is decomposed into beamforming and trajectory subproblems using alternating optimization. Concave surrogate is constructed for the Shannon-capacity term, while convex approximations are derived for the dispersion term and the nonlinear propulsion power model, yielding tractable convex subproblems solved iteratively. Compared with an offline MPC baseline, where the predictive problem is solved once over the entire mission horizon without feedback updates, and a conventional offline trajectory-beamforming optimization, the proposed closed-loop framework achieves disturbance-resilient mission completion under UAV position disturbances. Simulation results show that, compared with maximum ratio transmission (MRT) and equal-power allocation, the proposed interference-aware design significantly improves URLLC reliability under stringent minimum rate constraints. The results also quantify the impact of antenna scaling, transmit power, and transmission time on FBL performance, providing insights for reliability-centric UAV-enabled wireless networks in 5G and beyond.

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arXiv2025

Throughput Optimization in UAV-Mounted RIS under Jittering and Imperfect CSI via DRL

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can reshape wireless propagation on-demand. However, their performance is sensitive to UAV jitter and cascaded channel uncertainty. This paper investigates a downlink multiple-input single-output UAV-mounted RIS system in which a ground multiple-antenna base station (BS) serves multiple single-antenna users under practical impairments. Our goal is to maximize the expected throughput under stochastic three-dimensional UAV jitter and imperfect cascaded channel state information (CSI) based only on the available channel estimates. This leads to a stochastic nonconvex optimization problem subject to a BS transmit power constraint and strict unit-modulus constraints on all RIS elements. To address this problem, we design a model-free deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework with a contextual bandit formulation. A differentiable feasibility layer is utilized to map continuous actions to feasible solutions, while the reward is a Monte Carlo estimate of the expected throughput. We instantiate this framework with constrained variants of deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3) that do not use target networks. Simulations show that the proposed algorithms yield higher throughput than conventional alternating optimization-based weighted minimum mean-square error (AO-WMMSE) baselines under severe jitter and low CSI quality. Across different scenarios, the proposed methods achieve performance that is either comparable to or slightly below the AO-WMMSE benchmark, based on sample average approximation (SAA) with a relative gap ranging from 0-12%. Moreover, the proposed DRL controllers achieve online inference times of 0.6 ms per decision versus roughly 370-550 ms for AO-WMMSE solvers.

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arXiv2025

Effective Capacity Analysis of Joint Near and Far-Field Communication in 6G URLLC Networks

The emergence of 6G networks enables simultaneous near-field and far-field communications through extremely large antenna arrays and high carrier frequencies. While these regimes enhance spatial multiplexing and link capacity, their coexistence poses new challenges in ensuring quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees for delay-sensitive applications. This paper presents an effective capacity (EC) analysis framework that jointly models near- and far-field communication regimes under distance estimation uncertainty. The user location is modeled as a random variable spanning both propagation regions, and tractable closed-form expression for the EC is derived to quantify delay performance. Numerical results illustrate the impact of estimation variance, QoS exponent, far-field boundary and near-field boundary (Fraunhofer distance) on EC performance.

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arXiv2025

Beamfocusing and Power Allocation for AN-Based PLS in Multiuser XL-MIMO with Multiple Eavesdroppers

This paper investigates the downlink (DL) physical layer security (PLS) in a near-field (NF) extra-large multiple-input multiple-output MIMO (XL-MIMO) system. To enhance the secrecy rate (SR), null-space artificial noise (AN) is transmitted alongside the confidential message, ensuring orthogonality with legitimate user equipment (LUE) channels. The objective is to maximize the minimum SR by optimizing the NF beamfocusing matrix and power allocation between the signal and AN, considering various channel state information (CSI) conditions and transmit power constraints. The proposed approach uses successive convex approximation (SCA) for beamfocusing optimization and golden section search (GSS) for power allocation. The following open questions are addressed: (i) Can AN transmission further enhance SR for multiple LUEs in the presence of multiple eavesdropping user equipment (EUEs)? (ii) Can null-space AN transmission achieve attractive SR performance even without CSI availability for EUEs? Both questions are affirmatively answered and explored in detail, with an algorithm presented for joint beamfocusing design and AN-aided power allocation. The proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches that either omit AN transmission or rely on maximal-ratio transmission (MRT) for beamfocusing.

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arXiv2025

Intelligent Spectrum Sharing in Integrated TN-NTNs: A Hierarchical Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach

Integrating non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) with terrestrial networks (TNs) is key to enhancing coverage, capacity, and reliability in future wireless communications. However, the multi-tier, heterogeneous architecture of these integrated TN-NTNs introduces complex challenges in spectrum sharing and interference management. Conventional optimization approaches struggle to handle the high-dimensional decision space and dynamic nature of these networks. This paper proposes a novel hierarchical deep reinforcement learning (HDRL) framework to address these challenges and enable intelligent spectrum sharing. The proposed framework leverages the inherent hierarchy of the network, with separate policies for each tier, to learn and optimize spectrum allocation decisions at different timescales and levels of abstraction. By decomposing the complex spectrum sharing problem into manageable sub-tasks and allowing for efficient coordination among the tiers, the HDRL approach offers a scalable and adaptive solution for spectrum management in future TN-NTNs. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed framework compared to traditional approaches, highlighting its potential to enhance spectral efficiency and network capacity in dynamic, multi-tier environments.

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arXiv2025

Advancements in UAV-based Integrated Sensing and Communication: A Comprehensive Survey

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems are poised to revolutionize next-generation wireless networks by enabling simultaneous sensing and communication (S\&C). This survey comprehensively reviews UAV-ISAC systems, highlighting foundational concepts, key advancements, and future research directions. We explore recent advancements in UAV-based ISAC systems from various perspectives and objectives, including advanced channel estimation (CE), beam tracking, and system throughput optimization under joint sensing and communication S\&C constraints. Additionally, we examine weighted sum rate (WSR) and sensing trade-offs, delay and age of information (AoI) minimization, energy efficiency (EE), and security enhancement. These applications highlight the potential of UAV-based ISAC systems to improve spectrum utilization, enhance communication reliability, reduce latency, and optimize energy consumption across diverse domains, including smart cities, disaster relief, and defense operations. The survey also features summary tables for comparative analysis of existing methodologies, emphasizing performance, limitations, and effectiveness in addressing various challenges. By synthesizing recent advancements and identifying open research challenges, this survey aims to be a valuable resource for developing efficient, adaptive, and secure UAV-based ISAC systems.

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arXiv2024

RIS-Assisted Aerial Non-Terrestrial Networks: An Intelligent Synergy with Deep Reinforcement Learning

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted aerial non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) offer a promising paradigm for enhancing wireless communications in the era of 6G and beyond. By integrating RIS with aerial platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and high-altitude platforms (HAPs), these networks can intelligently control signal propagation, extending coverage, improving capacity, and enhancing link reliability. This article explores the application of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) as a powerful tool for optimizing RIS-assisted aerial NTNs. We focus on hybrid proximal policy optimization (H-PPO), a robust DRL algorithm well-suited for handling the complex, hybrid action spaces inherent in these networks. Through a case study of an aerial RIS (ARIS)-aided coordinated multi-point non-orthogonal multiple access (CoMP-NOMA) network, we demonstrate how H-PPO can effectively optimize the system and maximize the sum rate while adhering to system constraints. Finally, we discuss key challenges and promising research directions for DRL-powered RIS-assisted aerial NTNs, highlighting their potential to transform next-generation wireless networks.

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arXiv2024

Unsupervised Learning Approach for Beamforming in Cell-Free Integrated Sensing and Communication

Cell-free massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems can provide reliable connectivity and increase user throughput and spectral efficiency of integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems. This can only be achieved through intelligent beamforming design. While many works have proposed optimization methods to design beamformers for cell-free systems, the underlying algorithms are computationally complex and potentially increase fronthaul link loads. To address this concern, we propose an unsupervised learning algorithm to jointly design the communication and sensing beamformers for cell-free ISAC system. Specifically, we adopt a teacher-student training model to guarantee a balanced maximization of sensing signal to noise ratio (SSNR) and signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), which represent the sensing and communication metrics, respectively. The proposed scheme is decentralized, which can reduce the load on the central processing unit (CPU) and the required fronthaul links. To avoid the tradeoff problem between sensing and communication counterparts of the cell-free system, we first train two identical models (teacher models) each biased towards one of the two tasks. A third identical model (a student model) is trained based on the maximum sensing and communication performance information obtained by the teacher models. While the results show that our proposed unsupervised DL approach yields a performance close to the state-of-the-art solution, the proposed approach is more computationally efficient than the state of the art by at least three orders of magnitude.

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