Open-source OFDM ISAC platform

Real-time OFDM sensing and communication for OTA experiments

≥100 MHz *
Real-time bandwidth
For high-throughput OTA experiments and real-time radio validation.
Monostatic + Bistatic
Sensing modes
Support both BS-side monostatic sensing and UE-side bistatic sensing in one platform.
OTA Sync
Distributed operation
Run bistatic experiments without depending on wired synchronization links.
Open Documentation See System Architecture

* Validated for communication plus monostatic and bistatic sensing on an i7 10700 + USRP X310 platform.

Why OpenISAC

Built for high-bandwidth OTA ISAC experiments

OpenISAC is a high-bandwidth OFDM ISAC platform for teams that need real OTA experiments with a stack that stays readable, modifiable, and close to the physical layer.

Built for OTA experiments

OpenISAC sits between simulation code and full standards stacks, so teams can move from idea to real hardware faster.

Real-time radio path

C++ handles the real-time PHY and sensing path, while Python tools cover visualization, analysis, and control workflows.

Minimal configuration friction

Runtime behavior is YAML-driven, with templates for X310 and B210 plus utilities for CPU isolation and web-based config editing.

What it is, and what it is not

Platform positioning

Built for real OTA ISAC research and rapid PHY iteration, not for standards compliance or full-stack interoperability.

What OpenISAC is

A minimal OFDM-based communication and sensing platform for academic experiments, prototyping, and rapid algorithm validation.

What OpenISAC is not

Not a Wi-Fi or 5G NR compliant implementation, and not a replacement for full-stack systems such as openwifi or OpenAirInterface.

When to use it

Use it when you need to validate OFDM/ISAC ideas quickly and move synchronization, sensing, or PHY concepts into real OTA experiments.

When not to use it

Do not use it when your primary goal is interoperability, full MAC behavior, standards compliance, or production deployment.

Documentation

Installation, architecture, signal processing, and reference

Browse setup guidance, system architecture, signal-processing details, and the full reference manual.

Getting Started

Setup and first OTA run

Hardware setup, software installation, performance tuning, and runtime preparation for end-to-end deployment.

Go to Documentation
System Design

System and software architecture

Read the overall system architecture together with the BS-side and UE-side software architecture.

View Architecture
Signal Processing

PHY and sensing pipeline

Read the signal model, monostatic sensing flow, UE reception, and bistatic OTA synchronization details.

Open Signal Processing
Source

Repository and tooling

GitHub, plotting tools, config editor, and runtime scripts for everyday experimentation workflows.

Open GitHub

Demos

Real sensing and communication examples

Delay-Doppler sensing

Real-time delay-Doppler map of a moving drone.

Clutter rejection

Comparison of MTI clutter rejection with the filter enabled and disabled.

Micro-Doppler sensing

Micro-Doppler signatures of a drone ascending and descending.

Real-time communication

Video streaming over the ISAC link using the same platform.

Paper and Community

Research context and community

Citation

Z. Zhou, C. Zhang, X. Xu, and Y. Zeng, "OpenISAC: An Open-Source Real-Time Experimentation Platform for OFDM-ISAC with Over-the-Air Synchronization," arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.03535, Jan. 2026.

Open arXiv

Affiliation

SEU Logo PML Logo

Yong Zeng Group at the National Mobile Communications Research Laboratory, Southeast University and the Purple Mountain Laboratories

Community

WeChat

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