Knowledge Distillation for Collaborative Learning in Distributed Communications and Sensing

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Nguyen, Nhan Thanh, Ma, Mengyuan, Shlezinger, Nir, Choi, Junil, Eldar, Yonina C., Swindlehurst, A. Lee, Juntti, Markku
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Nguyen, Nhan Thanh
Ma, Mengyuan
Shlezinger, Nir
Choi, Junil
Eldar, Yonina C.
Swindlehurst, A. Lee
Juntti, Markku
author_facet Nguyen, Nhan Thanh
Ma, Mengyuan
Shlezinger, Nir
Choi, Junil
Eldar, Yonina C.
Swindlehurst, A. Lee
Juntti, Markku
contents The rise of sixth generation (6G) wireless networks promises to deliver ultra-reliable, low-latency, and energy-efficient communications, sensing, and computing. However, traditional centralized artificial intelligence (AI) paradigms are ill-suited to the decentralized, resource-constrained, and dynamic nature of 6G ecosystems. This paper explores knowledge distillation (KD) and collaborative learning as promising techniques that enable the efficient and scalable deployment of lightweight AI models across distributed communications and sensing (C&S) nodes. We begin by providing an overview of KD and highlight the key strengths that make it particularly effective in distributed scenarios characterized by device heterogeneity, task diversity, and constrained resources. We then examine its role in fostering collective intelligence through collaborative learning between the central and distributed nodes via various knowledge distilling and deployment strategies. Finally, we present a systematic numerical study demonstrating that KD-empowered collaborative learning can effectively support lightweight AI models for multi-modal sensing-assisted beam tracking applications with substantial performance gains and complexity reduction.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_16116
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Knowledge Distillation for Collaborative Learning in Distributed Communications and Sensing
Nguyen, Nhan Thanh
Ma, Mengyuan
Shlezinger, Nir
Choi, Junil
Eldar, Yonina C.
Swindlehurst, A. Lee
Juntti, Markku
Signal Processing
The rise of sixth generation (6G) wireless networks promises to deliver ultra-reliable, low-latency, and energy-efficient communications, sensing, and computing. However, traditional centralized artificial intelligence (AI) paradigms are ill-suited to the decentralized, resource-constrained, and dynamic nature of 6G ecosystems. This paper explores knowledge distillation (KD) and collaborative learning as promising techniques that enable the efficient and scalable deployment of lightweight AI models across distributed communications and sensing (C&S) nodes. We begin by providing an overview of KD and highlight the key strengths that make it particularly effective in distributed scenarios characterized by device heterogeneity, task diversity, and constrained resources. We then examine its role in fostering collective intelligence through collaborative learning between the central and distributed nodes via various knowledge distilling and deployment strategies. Finally, we present a systematic numerical study demonstrating that KD-empowered collaborative learning can effectively support lightweight AI models for multi-modal sensing-assisted beam tracking applications with substantial performance gains and complexity reduction.
title Knowledge Distillation for Collaborative Learning in Distributed Communications and Sensing
topic Signal Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.16116