Reviewed by Lexie CornerMar 25 2025
With support from the Madrid Regional Government, IMDEA Networks has partnered with UC3M, UAM, and UPM on the DISCO6G project. This initiative focuses on Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which enables network infrastructure to serve as both data transmitters and real-time, distributed sensors.
DISCO6G represents a paradigm shift, as it turns the network into a system capable of detecting its environment while communicating, something crucial for critical applications in transport and healthcare.
Jesús Omar Lacruz, Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator, IMDEA Networks
The IMDEA Networks team is leading the development of ISAC systems for 6G networks. They have made key advancements in creating sophisticated ISAC architectures that integrate distributed sensing from multiple nodes to enhance real-time environmental awareness. They are also tackling the challenge of ultra-precise synchronization in large-scale networks.
We are developing mechanisms that reduce timing errors, which is essential for autonomous vehicles and medical diagnostics.
Jesús Omar Lacruz, Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator, IMDEA Networks
Additionally, the team is developing efficient technologies for applications in smart cities, automobile sensors, healthcare devices, and low-power ISAC solutions.
Challenges
DISCO6G addresses several key challenges in the deployment of 6G networks, particularly in low-latency, high-precision data gathering and transmission, which are critical for applications in healthcare and transportation. While utilizing millimeter and submillimeter waves provides substantial bandwidth, it also increases the signal's vulnerability to interference.
“To maximize the potential of these frequencies, we are developing reconfigurable intelligent surfaces and advanced AI algorithms that improve signal quality,” highlighted Lacruz.
Another challenge is the integration of various sensors. The combination of LiDAR data, radio frequency, and other technologies enables more precise detection and location. DISCO6G is also focusing on developing non-invasive sensing methods, particularly for the biomedical industry.
“Currently, many diagnostic tests are invasive and slow. With DISCO6G, we are exploring radio frequency-based techniques that can detect pathogens in real-time without physical contact,” explained the researcher.
Impact and Applications
DISCO6G is expected to impact several industries:
- Advanced Biomedical Diagnostics: Radio frequency-based identification of viruses and pathogens enables fast, contactless testing.
- Safer and More Efficient Transportation: Real-time object detection, traffic monitoring, and collision prevention in railway and vehicular networks.
- Sustainable Communication Networks: Optimized spectrum utilization reduces energy consumption.
- Rapid Emergency Response: Precise real-time tracking of vehicles and individuals enhances rescue and evacuation strategies in critical situations.
Use Cases
In transportation, DISCO6G will allow for the precise location tracking of trains, speed estimation, and management of passenger flow in metro and railroad systems. Additionally, it will enable cooperative detection in vehicle networks, improving autonomous driving safety.
In biomedicine, DISCO6G can be applied to automated patient monitoring in smart hospitals and enable rapid viral diagnosis without the need for invasive testing.
“With DISCO6G, IMDEA Networks is redefining the future of mobile networks, driving connectivity that not only communicates but also perceives the environment to enhance safety, healthcare, and the efficiency of future infrastructures,” concludes Lacruz.