Joint Radar and Communication Design: Applications, State-of-the-Art, and the Road Ahead

Sharing of the frequency bands between radar and communication systems has attracted substantial attention, as it can avoid under-utilization of otherwise permanently allocated spectral resources, thus improving efficiency. Further, there is increasing demand for radar and communication systems that share the hardware platform as well as the frequency band, as this not only decongests the spectrum, but also benefits both sensing and signaling operations via the full cooperation between both functionalities. Nevertheless, the success of spectrum and hardware sharing between radar and communication systems critically depends on high-quality joint radar and communication designs. In the first part of this paper, we overview the research progress in the areas of radar-communication coexistence and dual-functional radar-communication (DFRC) systems, with particular emphasis on application scenarios and technical approaches. In the second part, we propose a novel transceiver architecture and frame structure for a DFRC base station (BS) operating in the millimeter wave (mmWave) band, using the hybrid analog-digital (HAD) beamforming technique. We assume that the BS is serving a multi-antenna user equipment (UE) over a mmWave channel, and at the same time it actively detects targets. The targets also play the role of scatterers for the communication signal. In that framework, we propose a novel scheme for joint target search and communication channel estimation, which relies on omni-directional pilot signals generated by the HAD structure. Given a fully-digital communication precoder and a desired radar transmit beampattern, we propose to design the analog and digital precoders under non-convex constant-modulus (CM) and power constraints, such that the BS can formulate narrow beams towards all the targets, while pre-equalizing the impact of the communication channel. Furthermore, we design a HAD receiver that can simultaneously process signals from the UE and echo waves from the targets. By tracking the angular variation of the targets, we show that it is possible to recover the target echoes and mitigate the resulting interference to the UE signals, even when the radar and communication signals share the same signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The feasibility and efficiency of the proposed approaches in realizing DFRC are verified via numerical simulations. Finally, the paper concludes with an overview of the open problems in the research field of communication and radar spectrum sharing (CRSS)

THE HIGH FREQUENCY SURFACE WAVE RADAR SOLUTION FOR VESSEL TRACKING BEYOND THE HORIZON

With maximum range of about 200 nautical miles (approx. 370 km) High Frequency Surface Wave Radars (HFSWR) provide unique capability for vessel detection far beyond the horizon without utilization of any moving platforms. Such uniqueness requires design principles unlike those usually used in microwave radar. In this paper the key concepts of HFSWR based on Frequency Modulated Continuous (FMCW) principles are presented. The paper further describes operating principles with focus on signal processing techniques used to extract desired data. The signal processing describes range and Doppler processing but focus is given to the Digital Beamforming (DBF) and Constant False Alarm Rate (CFAR) models. In order to better present the design process, data obtained from the HFSWR sites operating in the Gulf of Guinea are used.  

Exploring the Synergy: A Review of Dual-Functional Radar Communication Systems

This review paper examines the concept and advancements in the evolving landscape of Dual-functional Radar Communication (DFRC) systems. Traditionally, radar and communication systems have functioned independently, but current research is actively investigating the integration of these functionalities into a unified platform. This paper discusses the motivations behind the development of DFRC systems, the challenges involved, and the potential benefits they offer. A discussion on the performance bounds for DFRC systems is also presented. The paper encompasses a comprehensive analysis of various techniques, architectures, and technologies used in the design and optimization of DFRC systems, along with their performance and trade-offs. Additionally, we explore potential application scenarios for these joint communication and sensing systems, offering a comprehensive perspective on the multifaceted landscape of DFRC technology.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure

RADAR Based Collision Avoidance for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have become increasingly prevalent and will represent an increasing percentage of all aviation. These unmanned aircraft are available in a wide range of sizes and capabilities and can be used for a multitude of civilian and military applications. However, as the number of UAS increases so does the risk of mid-air collisions involving unmanned aircraft. This dissertation aims present one possible solution for addressing the mid-air collision problem in addition to increasing the levels of autonomy of UAS beyond waypoint navigation to include preemptive sensor-based collision avoidance. The presented research goes beyond the current state of the art by demonstrating the feasibility and providing an example of a scalable, self-contained, RADAR-based, collision avoidance system. The technology described herein can be made suitable for use on a miniature (Maximum Takeoff Weight \u3c 10kg) UAS platform. This is of paramount importance as the miniature UAS field has the lowest barriers to entry (acquisition and operating costs) and consequently represents the most rapidly increasing class of UAS

Tracking a non-cooperative target using a Doppler radar wireless sensor network

Tracking or target localization is used in a wide range of important tasks from knowing when your flight will arrive to ensuring your mail is received on time. Tracking provides the location of resources enabling solutions to complex logistical problems. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) create new opportunities when applied to tracking, such as more flexible deployment and real-time information. When radar is used as the sensing element in a tracking WSN better results can be obtained; because radar has a comparatively larger range both in distance and angle to other sensors commonly used in WSNs. This allows for less nodes deployed covering larger areas, saving money. In this report I implement a tracking WSN platform similar to what was developed by Lim, Wang, and Terzis. This consists of several sensor nodes each with a radar, a sink node connected to a host PC, and a Matlab© program to fuse sensor data. I have re-implemented their experiment with my WSN platform for tracking a non-cooperative target to verify their results and also run simulations to compare. The results of these tests are discussed and some future improvements are proposed

An Overview of Signal Processing Techniques for Joint Communication and Radar Sensing

Joint communication and radar sensing (JCR) represents an emerging research field aiming to integrate the above two functionalities into a single system, by sharing the majority of hardware, signal processing modules and, in a typical case, the transmitted signal. The close cooperation of the communication and sensing functions can enable significant improvement of spectrum efficiency, reduction of device size, cost and power consumption, and improvement of performance of both functions. Advanced signal processing techniques are critical for making the integration efficient, from transmission signal design to receiver processing. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art on JCR systems from the signal processing perspective. A balanced coverage on both transmitter and receiver is provided for three types of JCR systems, namely, communication-centric, radar-centric, and joint design and optimization

Bistatic and Multistatic Radar Systems

Radar systems, based on bistatic radar concept attracted a substantial attention in the recent years. Passive coherent location systems using \"transmitters of opportunity\" like radio or TV broadcasters, GSM base stations, satellite communication and GNSS signals proved their potential in detection and tracking moving targets over a significant area. In this paper the multistatic location system with non-cooperative transmitters is described and various aspects of signal processing and signal parameters are discussed