{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7124454593","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/twc.2026.3652128","title":"Robust Optimization for Movable Antenna-Aided Cell-Free ISAC With Time Synchronization Errors","display_name":"Robust Optimization for Movable Antenna-Aided Cell-Free ISAC With Time Synchronization Errors","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-01-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7124454593","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1109/twc.2026.3652128"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1109/twc.2026.3652128","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/twc.2026.3652128","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S63459445","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications","issn_l":"1536-1276","issn":["1536-1276","1558-2248"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319808","host_organization_name":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5121497085","display_name":"Yue Xiu","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Yue Xiu","raw_affiliation_strings":["National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5103574564","display_name":"Y. Y. Zhao","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I172675005","display_name":"Nanyang Technological University","ror":"https://ror.org/02e7b5302","country_code":"SG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I172675005"]}],"countries":["SG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Yang Zhao","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Computing and Data Science, Nanyang Technological University, Jurong West, Singapore"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Computing and Data Science, Nanyang Technological University, Jurong West, Singapore","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I172675005"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5086104322","display_name":"Ran Yang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0435-7926"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ran Yang","raw_affiliation_strings":["National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5060379364","display_name":"Wanting Lyu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0510-2666"},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Wanting Lyu","raw_affiliation_strings":["National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5123197187","display_name":"Dusit Niyato","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I172675005","display_name":"Nanyang Technological University","ror":"https://ror.org/02e7b5302","country_code":"SG","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I172675005"]}],"countries":["SG"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Dusit Niyato","raw_affiliation_strings":["College of Computing and Data Science, Nanyang Technological University, Jurong West, Singapore"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"College of Computing and Data Science, Nanyang Technological University, Jurong West, Singapore","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I172675005"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5123206740","display_name":"Dong In Kim","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I848706","display_name":"Sungkyunkwan University","ror":"https://ror.org/04q78tk20","country_code":"KR","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I848706"]}],"countries":["KR"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Dong In Kim","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I848706"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5123176221","display_name":"Guangyi Liu","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I180662265","display_name":"China Mobile (China)","ror":"https://ror.org/05gftfe97","country_code":"CN","type":"company","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I180662265"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Guangyi Liu","raw_affiliation_strings":["China Mobile Research Institute, Beijing, China"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"China Mobile Research Institute, Beijing, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I180662265"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5123198590","display_name":"Ning Wei","orcid":null},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I150229711","display_name":"University of Electronic Science and Technology of China","ror":"https://ror.org/04qr3zq92","country_code":"CN","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}],"countries":["CN"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Ning Wei","raw_affiliation_strings":["National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China"],"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Communications, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":3,"institutions_distinct_count":8,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5121497085"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I150229711"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":20.2704,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":1,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.97506863,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":true},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":96,"max":99},"biblio":{"volume":"25","issue":null,"first_page":"10082","last_page":"10097"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10326","display_name":"Indoor and Outdoor Localization Technologies","score":0.2612000107765198,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10326","display_name":"Indoor and Outdoor Localization Technologies","score":0.2612000107765198,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2208","display_name":"Electrical and Electronic Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12216","display_name":"Network Time Synchronization Technologies","score":0.17509999871253967,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1705","display_name":"Computer Networks and Communications"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11739","display_name":"Microwave Imaging and Scattering Analysis","score":0.16120000183582306,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2204","display_name":"Biomedical Engineering"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/22","display_name":"Engineering"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/synchronization","display_name":"Synchronization (alternating current)","score":0.680400013923645},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/robust-optimization","display_name":"Robust optimization","score":0.6292999982833862},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/beamforming","display_name":"Beamforming","score":0.6212999820709229},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/optimization-problem","display_name":"Optimization problem","score":0.5968000292778015},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/robustness","display_name":"Robustness (evolution)","score":0.531499981880188},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/exploit","display_name":"Exploit","score":0.41940000653266907},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/interference","display_name":"Interference (communication)","score":0.38190001249313354},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/wireless","display_name":"Wireless","score":0.36390000581741333},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/transmitter-power-output","display_name":"Transmitter power output","score":0.33980000019073486}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.8105999827384949},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778562939","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1298791","display_name":"Synchronization (alternating current)","level":3,"score":0.680400013923645},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C193254401","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2160088","display_name":"Robust optimization","level":2,"score":0.6292999982833862},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C54197355","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5782992","display_name":"Beamforming","level":2,"score":0.6212999820709229},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C137836250","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q984063","display_name":"Optimization problem","level":2,"score":0.5968000292778015},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C63479239","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7353546","display_name":"Robustness (evolution)","level":3,"score":0.531499981880188},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C79403827","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3988","display_name":"Real-time computing","level":1,"score":0.43549999594688416},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C165696696","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11287","display_name":"Exploit","level":2,"score":0.41940000653266907},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C32022120","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q797225","display_name":"Interference (communication)","level":3,"score":0.38190001249313354},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C555944384","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q249","display_name":"Wireless","level":2,"score":0.36390000581741333},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C65422117","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q358527","display_name":"Transmitter power output","level":4,"score":0.33980000019073486},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C60069766","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q357054","display_name":"Antenna diversity","level":3,"score":0.3379000127315521},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C164752517","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5570875","display_name":"Global optimization","level":2,"score":0.328000009059906},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C157972887","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q463359","display_name":"Convex optimization","level":3,"score":0.3257000148296356},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C113775141","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q428691","display_name":"Computer engineering","level":1,"score":0.3158000111579895},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C101765175","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q577764","display_name":"Communications system","level":2,"score":0.3059999942779541},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C24590314","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q336038","display_name":"Wireless sensor network","level":2,"score":0.30219998955726624},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C207987634","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176862","display_name":"MIMO","level":3,"score":0.2912999987602234},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C68781425","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2052203","display_name":"Multi-objective optimization","level":2,"score":0.288100004196167},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C77553402","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13222579","display_name":"Upper and lower bounds","level":2,"score":0.28790000081062317},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C18555067","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8375051","display_name":"Joint (building)","level":2,"score":0.2851000130176544},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C67226441","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1665389","display_name":"Robust statistics","level":3,"score":0.28439998626708984},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C62191587","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4771249","display_name":"Antenna array","level":3,"score":0.2842000126838684},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C126255220","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q141495","display_name":"Mathematical optimization","level":1,"score":0.272599995136261},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C198082294","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3399648","display_name":"Position (finance)","level":2,"score":0.2694000005722046},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2987595161","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q141495","display_name":"Optimization algorithm","level":2,"score":0.26030001044273376}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1109/twc.2026.3652128","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/twc.2026.3652128","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S63459445","display_name":"IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications","issn_l":"1536-1276","issn":["1536-1276","1558-2248"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310319808","host_organization_name":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310319808"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications","raw_type":"journal-article"},{"id":"pmh:oai:dr.ntu.edu.sg:10356/212315","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10356/212315","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306402609","display_name":"DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I172675005","host_organization_name":"Nanyang Technological University","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I172675005"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"submittedVersion","is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":null}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"pdf":false,"grobid_xml":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":42,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W2113642685","https://openalex.org/W2118753300","https://openalex.org/W2130071206","https://openalex.org/W2139566778","https://openalex.org/W2559695533","https://openalex.org/W2762134548","https://openalex.org/W3183168981","https://openalex.org/W3211304744","https://openalex.org/W4318586194","https://openalex.org/W4385517010","https://openalex.org/W4386436235","https://openalex.org/W4386523965","https://openalex.org/W4387682359","https://openalex.org/W4388666110","https://openalex.org/W4391892432","https://openalex.org/W4393139936","https://openalex.org/W4393241051","https://openalex.org/W4393972738","https://openalex.org/W4396523493","https://openalex.org/W4399110229","https://openalex.org/W4399110650","https://openalex.org/W4400645162","https://openalex.org/W4400877903","https://openalex.org/W4401907542","https://openalex.org/W4402262781","https://openalex.org/W4402626719","https://openalex.org/W4402916054","https://openalex.org/W4403125502","https://openalex.org/W4403182219","https://openalex.org/W4403210055","https://openalex.org/W4404056907","https://openalex.org/W4404132916","https://openalex.org/W4405303659","https://openalex.org/W4406207729","https://openalex.org/W4406321301","https://openalex.org/W4407128572","https://openalex.org/W4408016736","https://openalex.org/W4408325352","https://openalex.org/W4409325940","https://openalex.org/W4410491912","https://openalex.org/W4412939862","https://openalex.org/W4413267640"],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"The":[0,197],"cell-free":[1],"integrated":[2],"sensing":[3,16,90,103,141,166,195],"and":[4,13,92,131,153,190,214],"communication":[5,87,136,188],"(CF-ISAC)":[6],"system,":[7],"which":[8,81],"effectively":[9],"mitigates":[10],"intra-cell":[11],"interference":[12],"provides":[14],"precise":[15],"accuracy,":[17,91],"is":[18,43,147,215],"a":[19,57,72,101,124],"promising":[20],"technology":[21],"for":[22,107,128,149],"future":[23],"6G":[24],"networks.":[25],"However,":[26],"to":[27,46,85,110,134,162,178,222],"fully":[28],"capitalize":[29],"on":[30,77,185],"the":[31,47,61,64,94,115,150,164,202,209,212,229],"potential":[32],"of":[33,49,63,96,211],"CF-ISAC,":[34],"accurate":[35],"time":[36],"synchronization":[37,51],"(TS)":[38],"between":[39],"access":[40],"points":[41],"(APs)":[42],"critical.":[44],"Due":[45],"limitations":[48],"current":[50],"technologies,":[52,228],"TS":[53,97,108,218],"errors":[54,109],"have":[55],"become":[56],"significant":[58],"challenge":[59],"in":[60],"development":[62],"CF-ISAC":[65,74,232],"system.":[66],"In":[67],"this":[68,112],"paper,":[69],"we":[70,122,157,171],"propose":[71,172],"novel":[73],"architecture":[75,233],"based":[76],"movable":[78],"antennas":[79],"(MAs),":[80],"exploits":[82],"spatial":[83],"diversity":[84],"enhance":[86],"rates,":[88],"maintain":[89],"reduce":[93],"impact":[95],"errors.":[98,219],"We":[99],"formulate":[100],"worst-case":[102,116,165],"accuracy":[104,167,210],"optimization":[105,126,145,160,168,180,205],"problem":[106],"address":[111],"challenge,":[113],"deriving":[114],"Cram\u00e9r-Rao":[117],"lower":[118],"bound":[119],"(CRLB).":[120],"Subsequently,":[121],"develop":[123],"joint":[125],"framework":[127,146],"AP":[129],"beamforming":[130],"MA":[132,186],"positions":[133],"satisfy":[135],"rate":[137],"constraints":[138,184],"while":[139,182],"improving":[140,194],"accuracy.":[142,196],"A":[143],"robust":[144,204],"designed":[148],"highly":[151],"complex":[152],"non-convex":[154],"problem.":[155,169],"Specifically,":[156],"employ":[158],"manifold":[159],"(MO)":[161],"solve":[163],"Then,":[170],"an":[173],"MA-enabled":[174],"meta-reinforcement":[175],"learning":[176],"(MA-MetaRL)":[177],"design":[179],"variables":[181],"satisfying":[183],"positions,":[187],"rate,":[189],"transmit":[191],"power,":[192],"thereby":[193],"simulation":[198],"results":[199],"demonstrate":[200],"that":[201],"proposed":[203,230],"algorithm":[206],"significantly":[207],"improves":[208],"detection":[213],"strong":[216],"against":[217],"Moreover,":[220],"compared":[221],"conventional":[223],"fixed":[224],"position":[225],"antenna":[226],"(FPA)":[227],"MA-aided":[231],"achieves":[234],"higher":[235],"system":[236],"capacity,":[237],"thus":[238],"validating":[239],"its":[240],"effectiveness.":[241]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":1}],"updated_date":"2026-04-02T15:55:50.835912","created_date":"2026-01-17T00:00:00"}