Search Results (15)

This paper proposes a novel dual-functional radar-communication (DFRC) framework that integrates unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications into an integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system, termed the ISAC-UAV architecture. In this system, the UAV’s mobility is leveraged to simultaneously serve multiple single-antenna uplink users (UEs) and perform radar-based sensing tasks. A key challenge stems from the target position uncertainty due to movement, which impairs matched filtering and beamforming, thereby degrading both uplink reception and sensing performance. Moreover, UAV energy consumption associated with mobility must be considered to ensure energy-efficient operation. We aim to jointly maximize radar sensing accuracy and minimize UAV movement energy over multiple time steps, while maintaining reliable uplink communications. To address this multi-objective optimization, we propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) framework based on a long short-term memory (LSTM)-enhanced deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) network. By leveraging historical target trajectory data, the model improves prediction of target positions, enhancing sensing accuracy. The proposed DRL-based approach enables joint optimization of UAV trajectory and uplink power control over time. Extensive simulations validate that our method significantly improves communication quality and sensing performance, while ensuring energy-efficient UAV operation. Comparative results further confirm the model’s adaptability and robustness in dynamic environments, outperforming existing UAV trajectory planning and resource allocation benchmarks. Full article

In multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) dual-function radar–communication (DFRC) systems, the inevitable amplitude–phase errors increase the sidelobe of transmit beampattern and distort the synthesized waveforms, which degrades both radar and communication performance. Due to this, a robust low-sidelobe MIMO DFRC waveform design method is proposed. Firstly, a DFRC transmit signal model based on the uncertainty sets of amplitude–phase errors is established. The robust low-sidelobe MIMO DFRC waveform design problem is then formulated. In this problem, the sidelobe of transmit beampattern is minimized with the constraints on the mutual interference and the desired waveforms. To decrease the computational complexity, an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM)-based waveform design method is proposed, and the convergence is proved. Finally, some simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Full article

Frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) technologies play significant roles in millimeter-wave radar and communication. Their combinations, however, are understudied in the literature. This paper introduces a novel OFDM-FMCW dual-functional radar-communications (DFRC) system that takes advantage of the merits of both technologies. Specifically, we introduce a baseband modulation to the traditional FMCW radar system architecture. This integration combines the advantages of both waveforms, enhancing the diversity of radar transmission waveforms without compromising high-resolution distance detection and enjoying the communication capabilities of OFDM in the meantime. We establish the system and signal models for the proposed DFRC and develop holistic methods for both sensing and communications to accommodate the integration. For radar, we develop an efficient radar sensing scheme, with the impacts of adding OFDM also being analyzed. A communication scheme is also proposed, utilizing the undersampling theory to recover the OFDM baseband signals modulated by FMCW. The theoretical model of the communication receive signal is analyzed, and a coarse estimation combined with a fine estimation method for Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) estimation is proposed. System simulations validate the feasibility of radar detection and communication demodulation. Full article

This paper presents a technique based on Constellation Rotation Modulation (CRM) to enhance the communication bandwidth of Frequency-Hopping Multiple-Input Multiple-Output Dual-Function Radar and Communication (FH-MIMO DFRC) systems. The technique introduces the dimension of constellation diagram rotation without increasing the system bandwidth or power consumption, significantly improving communication efficiency. Specifically, CRM, by rotating the constellation diagram, combines with traditional Frequency-Hopping Code Selection (FHCS) and Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) to achieve higher data transmission rates. Through theoretical analysis and experimental verification, we demonstrate the specific modulation and demodulation principles of CRM, and we compare the differences between the minimum Euclidean distance-based and constellation diagram folding projection fast demodulation methods. The impact of the proposed modulation on radar detection range and detection performance was analyzed in conjunction with radar equations and ambiguity functions. Finally, achieved through simulation analysis of radar and communication systems, as well as actual system testing on an SDR platform, the simulation and experimental results indicate that CRM modulation can significantly enhance communication bandwidth while maintaining radar detection performance, thereby validating the accuracy and reliability of the theory. Full article

This paper investigates a multi-antenna, multi-input multi-output (MIMO) dual-functional radar and communication (DFRC) system platform. The system simultaneously detects radar targets and communicates with downlink cellular users. However, the modulated information within the transmitted waveforms may be susceptible to eavesdropping. To ensure the security of information transmission, we introduce non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technology to enhance the security performance of the MIMO-DFRC platform. Initially, we consider a scenario where the channel state information (CSI) of the radar target (eavesdropper) is perfectly known. Using fractional programming (FP) and semidefinite relaxation (SDR) techniques, we maximize the system’s total secrecy rate under the requirements for radar detection performance, communication rate, and system energy, thereby ensuring the security of the system. In the case where the CSI of the radar target (eavesdropper) is unavailable, we propose a robust secure beamforming optimization model. The channel model is represented as a bounded uncertainty set, and by jointly applying first-order Taylor expansion and the S-procedure, we transform the original problem into a tractable one characterized by linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Numerical results validate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach. Full article

As one of the promising technologies of 6G, dual-function radar communication (DFRC) integrates communication and radar sensing networks. However, with the application and deployment of DFRC, its security problem has become a significantly important issue. In this paper, we consider the physical layer security of a DFRC system where the base station communicates with multiple legitimate users and simultaneously detects the sensing target of interest. The sensing target is also a potential eavesdropper wiretapping the secure transmission. To this end, we proposed a secure design based on partial group successive interference cancellation through fully leveraging the split messages and partially decoding to improve the rate increment of legitimate users. In order to maximize the radar echo signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), we formulate an optimization problem of beamforming and consider introducing new variables and relaxing the problem to solve the non-convexity of the problem. Then, we propose a joint secure beamforming and rate optimization algorithm to solve the problem. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our design in improving the sensing and secrecy performance of the considered DFRC system. Full article

To detect moving weak targets in the dual function radar communication (DFRC) system of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform, a modified hybrid integration method is addressed in this paper. A high-speed aircraft can cause range walk (RW) and Doppler walk (DW), rendering traditional detection methods ineffective. To overcome RW and DW, this paper proposes an integration approach combining DFRC and OFDM. The proposed approach consists of two primary components: intra-frame coherent integration and hybrid multi-inter-frame integration. After the echo signal is re-fragmented into multiple subfragments, the first step involves integrating energy across fixed situations within intra-frames for each subcarrier. Subsequently, coherent integration is performed across the subfragments, followed by the application of a Radon transform (RT) to generate frames based on the properties derived from the coherent integration output. This paper provides detailed expressions and analyses for various performance metrics of our proposed method, including the communication bit error ratio (BER), responses of coherent and non-coherent outputs, and probability of detection. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategy. Full article

In this paper, we try to design the joint waveform and passive beamforming within the context of dual-function radar–communication (DFRC) systems. Focusing on the intricate trade-off between stringent radar beampattern constraints and their desired performance, we introduce a novel manifold idea based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) framework. Specifically, our proposed method, named DFRC-MA, could address the challenge of constant modulus waveform design in a multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) DFRC system. Firstly, our methodology begins by formulating the reference waveform to achieve an optimal radar beamforming pattern. Subsequently, we define the DFRC optimization problem to mitigate the multi-user interference (MUI) under the constant modulus constraint. Through a series of simulations, we evaluate the efficacy of DFRC-MA, where the integrated waveform designed by DFRC-MA exhibits superior performance over some prevalent ones. Full article

This paper proposes an optimal beamforming strategy for a downlink multi-user multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) dual-function radar communication (DFRC) system with dirty paper coding (DPC) adopted at the transmitter. We aim to achieve the maximum weighted sum rate of communicating users while adhering to a predetermined transmit covariance constraint for radar performance assurance. To make the intended problem trackable, we leverage the equivalence of the weighted sum rate and the weighted minimum mean squared error (MMSE) to reframe the issue and devise a block coordinate descent (BCD) approach to iteratively calculate transmit and receive beamforming solutions. Through this methodology, we demonstrate that the optimal receive beamforming aligns with the traditional MMSE approach, whereas the optimal transmit beamforming design can be cast into a quadratic optimization problem defined on a complex Stiefel manifold. Based on the majorization–minimization (MM) method, an iterative algorithm is then developed to compute the optimal transmit beamforming design by solving a series of orthogonal Procrustes problems (OPPs) that admit closed-form optimal solutions. Numerical findings serve to validate the efficacy of our scheme. It is demonstrated that our approach can achieve at least 73% higher spectral efficiency than the existing methods in a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime. Full article

In this study, we investigated two waveform design problems for a dual-functional radar communication (DFRC) system, taking into consideration different constrained communication quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. Our objective was to minimize the mean-square error (MSE) of radar beampattern matching as the cost function. To this end, the multi-user interference (MUI) energy constraint and constructive interference (CI) constraint were, respectively, formulated to ensure the communication QoS. It is important to note that we designed a strict per-user MUI energy constraint at each sampling moment to achieve more accurate control over communication performance. Additionally, we introduced a constant-modulus constraint to optimize the efficiency of the radio frequency (RF) amplifier. To tackle the nonconvex waveform design problems encountered, we employed the alternative direction methods of multipliers (ADMM) technique. This allowed us to decompose the original problem into two solvable subproblems, which were then solved using the majorization–minimization (MM) method and geometrical structure. Finally, we obtained extensive simulation results which demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithm. Full article

With the ongoing changes in global climate, ocean data play a crucial role in understanding the complex variations in the earth system. These variations pose significant challenges to human efforts in addressing the changes. As a data hub for the satellite geodetic technique, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) instill new vitality into ocean data collection due to their flexibility and mobility. At the same time, the dual-functional radar-communication (DFRC) system is considered a promising technology to empower ubiquitous communication and high-accuracy localization. In this paper, we explore a new fusion of UAV and DFRC to assist data acquisition in the ocean surveillance scenario. The floating buoys transmit uplink data transmission to the UAV with non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and attempt to localize the target cooperatively. With the mobility of the UAV and power control at the buoys, the system throughput and the target localization performance can be improved simultaneously. To balance the communication and sensing performance, a two-objective optimization problem is formulated by jointly optimizing the UAV’s location and buoy’s transmit power to maximize the system throughput and minimize the attainable localization mean-square error. We propose a joint communication and radar-sensing many-objective optimization (CRMOP) algorithm to meliorate the communication and radar-sensing performance simultaneously. Simulation results demonstrate that compared with the baseline, the proposed algorithm achieves superior performance in balancing the system throughput and target localization. Full article

Recently, the problem of target detection in noisy environments for the Dual-Functional Radar Communication (DFRC) integration system has been a hot topic. In this paper, to suppress the noise and further enhance the target detection performance, a novel manifold Riemannian Improved Armijo Search Conjugate Gradient algorithm (RIASCG) framework has been proposed which jointly optimizes the integrated transmitting waveform and receiving filter. Therein, the reference waveform is first designed to achieve excellent pattern matching of radar beamforming. Furthermore, to ensure the quality of system information transmission, the energy of multi-user interference (MUI) of communication signals is incorporated as the constraint. Additionally, the typical similarity constraint is introduced to ensure the transmitting waveform with a good ambiguity function. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that the designed waveform not only enhances the system’s target detection performance in noisy environments but also achieves a relatively good multi-user communication ability when compared with other prevalent waveforms. Full article

In this paper, we design constant modulus waveforms for dual-function radar-communication (DFRC) systems based on a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) configuration of sensors for a far-field scenario. At first, we formulate a non-convex optimization problem subject to waveform synthesis for minimizing the interference power while maintaining a constant modulus constraint. Next, we solve this non-convex problem, iteratively, using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm. Importantly, the designed waveforms approximate a desired beampattern in terms of a high-gain radar beam and a slightly high gain communication beam while maintaining a desired low sidelobe level. The designed waveforms ensure an improved detection probability and an improved bit error rate (BER) for radar and communications parts, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method through simulation results. Full article

This paper deals with the Dual-Function Radar and Communication (DFRC) signal design for a Multiple-Input–Multiple-Output (MIMO) system, considering the presence of signal-dependent clutter. A modulation methodology called Spectral Position Index and Amplitude (SPIA) modulation is proposed, which involves selecting passband and stopband positions and applying amplitude modulation. Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) is maximized to enhance radar detectability. Meanwhile, variable modulus and communication modulation constraints are enforced to ensure compatibility with the current hardware techniques and communication demand, respectively. In addition, the mainlobe width and sidelobe level constraints used to concentrate energy in a specific area of space are enforced. To tackle the resulting nonconvex and NP-hard optimization problem, an Iterative Block Enhancement (IBE) framework that alternately updates each signal in each emitting antenna is exploited to monotonically increase SINR. Each block involves the Dinkelbach’s Iterative Procedure (DIP), Sequential Convex Approximation (SCA) and Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) to obtain a single signal. The computational complexity and convergence of the algorithm are analyzed. Finally, the numerical results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed dual-function scheme in sidelobe signal-dependent clutter. Full article

In this paper, we present a hybrid frequency shift keying and frequency division multiplexing (i.e., FSK–FDM) approach for information embedding in dual-function radar and communication (DFRC) design to achieve an improved communication data rate. Since most of the existing works focus on merely two-bit transmission in each pulse repetition interval (PRI) using different amplitude modulation (AM)- and phased modulation (PM)-based techniques, this paper proposes a new technique that doubles the data rate by using a hybrid FSK–FDM technique. Note that the AM-based techniques are used when the communication receiver resides in the side lobe region of the radar. In contrast, the PM-based techniques perform better if the communication receiver is in the main lobe region. However, the proposed design facilitates the delivery of information bits to the communication receivers with an improved bit rate (BR) and bit error rate (BER) regardless of their locations in the radar’s main lobe or side lobe regions. That is, the proposed scheme enables information encoding according to the transmitted waveforms and frequencies using FSK modulation. Next, the modulated symbols are added together to achieve a double data rate using the FDM technique. Finally, each transmitted composite symbol contains multiple FSK-modulated symbols, resulting in an increased data rate for the communication receiver. Numerous simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed technique. Full article