TY - JOUR
T1 - Toward Low-Altitude Embodied Intelligence
T2 - A Sensing-Communication-Computation- Control Closed-Loop Perspective
AU - Luo, Jihao
AU - Fei, Zesong
AU - Wang, Xinyi
AU - Tang, Shuntian
AU - Liu, Zilong
AU - Zhou, Yiqing
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 1979-2012 IEEE.
PY - 2026
Y1 - 2026
N2 - The rapid growth of the low-altitude economy drives increasingly autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, giving rise to low-altitude embodied intelligence (LAEI), in which sensing, communication, computation, and control (SC$3) are tightly integrated to enable closed-loop interaction, ensuring timely, effective, and safe responses in complex or unknown environments. This article systematically explores the LAEI networks, from its fundamental architecture to the diverse scenarios that it can support. We examine key enabling techniques that sustain timely information exchange and effective decision feedback within the SC3 closed loop. A representative low-altitude UAV mission in an unknown urban area is presented as a case study, where the UAV provides communication services and performs environmental sensing to inform closed-loop control, illustrating how coordinated SC3 capabilities enable efficient and responsive operation. By identifying major challenges and outlining future research directions, this work serves as a cornerstone for developing next-generation low-altitude intelligent systems.
AB - The rapid growth of the low-altitude economy drives increasingly autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, giving rise to low-altitude embodied intelligence (LAEI), in which sensing, communication, computation, and control (SC$3) are tightly integrated to enable closed-loop interaction, ensuring timely, effective, and safe responses in complex or unknown environments. This article systematically explores the LAEI networks, from its fundamental architecture to the diverse scenarios that it can support. We examine key enabling techniques that sustain timely information exchange and effective decision feedback within the SC3 closed loop. A representative low-altitude UAV mission in an unknown urban area is presented as a case study, where the UAV provides communication services and performs environmental sensing to inform closed-loop control, illustrating how coordinated SC3 capabilities enable efficient and responsive operation. By identifying major challenges and outlining future research directions, this work serves as a cornerstone for developing next-generation low-altitude intelligent systems.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105041253740
U2 - 10.1109/MCOM.001.2600091
DO - 10.1109/MCOM.001.2600091
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105041253740
SN - 0163-6804
JO - IEEE Communications Magazine
JF - IEEE Communications Magazine
ER -