Integrated OFDM Waveform Design for RadCom System-Based Signal-to-Clutter Noise Ratio Maximization

Abstract

Integrated Radar and Communication (RadCom) Systems have become more crucial ingredients in the next generation of networks due to numerous types of characteristics, including reducing the system size, minimizing power consumption, and mitigating spectrum scarcity. In this paper, we propose an integrated Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) waveform design strategy for RadCom system-based Signal-to-clutter Noise Ratio (SCNR) maximization. The multi-carrier OFDM waveform is exploited at the RadCom transceiver to perform the functions of the radar system and communication system concurrently. We aim to improve the radar detection performance by maximizing the SCNR and maintaining the Data Information Rate (DIR) thresholds for communication system metrics. The maximization problem is posed as a convex optimization model and solved analytically using KKT conditions to find an optimal integrated waveform design. The findings obtained via simulation verify that the proposed strategy is capable of solving the waveform design issue for RadCom systems with low complexity. In addition, the proposed strategy effectively improves radar target detection and power consumption for RadCom systems.