OFDM Waveform for Distributed Radar Sensing in Automotive Scenarios

In this paper, an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform radar sensing approach is demonstrated based on field measurements at C-band. We demonstrate a concept, that is based on the exploitation of typical wireless communication transmissions to perform passive, distributed radar sensing. Our concept is based on an OFDM radar that operates in the modulation symbol domain and can be well integrated into existing OFDM receivers. The measurement setup and the signal processing steps for the OFDM radar are described. The results show, that the passive, distributed radar sensing approach can be used to detect moving cars and even pedestrians in automotive intersection scenarios.

I. Introduction

Along with the rapid deployment and evolution of mobile communication throughout the last 20 years, OFDM has developed to be a common waveform choice in many such systems. The limited spectral resources required to enable wireless communication are valuable for any mobile network operator. However, those limitations also have increasing importance in the field of radar sensing.