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Lucas Giroto de Oliveira

Publications and source records attributed to Lucas Giroto de Oliveira.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Target Detection for ISAC with TDD Transmission

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) poses various challenges that arise from the communication-centric design of cellular networks. One of them is target detection with time division duplex (TDD) transmission used in current 5G and future 6G deployments, where the periodic on-off behavior of the transmitter creates impulsive sidelobes in the radar point spread function (PSF). These can be mistaken for actual targets by conventional peak detection techniques, leading to false alarms. In this work, we first analytically describe the range-Doppler PSF due to TDD windowing. We then propose a computationally efficient method that leverages the PSF to distinguish impulsive sidelobes from valid target peaks. Simulation results and outdoor drone measurements with an ISAC proof of concept demonstrate the capability of our algorithm, showing that it can achieve reliable target detection while limiting false alarms.

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System Concept and Demonstration of Bistatic MIMO-OFDM-based ISAC

In future sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks, radar sensing is expected to be offered as an additional service to its original purpose of communication. Merging these two functions results in integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems. In this context, bistatic ISAC appears as a possibility to exploit the distributed nature of cellular networks while avoiding highly demanding hardware requirements such as full-duplex operation. Recent studies have introduced strategies to perform required synchronization and data exchange between nodes for bistatic ISAC operation, based on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), however, only for single-input single-output architectures. In this article, a system concept for a bistatic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)-OFDM-based ISAC system with beamforming at both transmitter and receiver is proposed, and a distribution synchronization concept to ensure coherence among the different receive channels for direction-of-arrival estimation is presented. After a discussion on the ISAC processing chain, including relevant aspects for practical deployments such as transmitter digital pre-distortion and receiver calibration, a 4x8 MIMO measurement setup at 27.5 GHz and results are presented to validate the proposed system and distribution synchronization concepts.

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On the Sensing Performance of OFDM-based ISAC under the Influence of Oscillator Phase Noise

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) is a novel capability expected for sixth generation (6G) cellular networks. To that end, several challenges must be addressed to enable both mono- and bistatic sensing in existing deployments. A common impairment in both architectures is oscillator phase noise (PN), which not only degrades communication performance, but also severely impairs radar sensing. To enable a broader understanding of orthogonal-frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based sensing impaired by PN, this article presents an analysis of sensing peformance in OFDM-based ISAC for different waveform parameter choices and settings in both mono- and bistatic architectures. In this context, the distortion of the adopted digital constellation modulation is analyzed and the resulting PN-induced effects in range-Doppler radar images are investigated both without and with PN compensation. These effects include peak power loss of target reflections and higher sidelobe levels, especially in the Doppler shift direction. In the conducted analysis, these effects are measured by the peak power loss ratio, peak-to-sidelobe level ratio, and integrated sidelobe level ratio parameters, the two latter being evaluated in both range and Doppler shift directions. In addition, the signal-to-interference ratio is analyzed to allow not only quantifying the distortion of a target reflection, but also measuring the interference floor level in a radar image. The achieved results allow to quantify not only the PN-induced impairments to a single target, but also how the induced degradation may impair the sensing performance of OFDM-based ISAC systems in multi-target scenarios.

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Feasibility of Non-Line-of-Sight Integrated Sensing and Communication at mmWave

One rarely addressed direction in the context of Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) is non-line-of-sight (NLOS) sensing, with the potential to enable use cases like intrusion detection and to increase the value that wireless networks can bring. However, ISAC networks impose challenges for sensing due to their communication-oriented design. For instance, time division duplex transmission creates spectral holes in time, resulting in spectral replicas in the radar image. To counteract this, we evaluate different channel state information processing strategies and discuss their tradeoffs. We further propose an ensemble of techniques to detect targets in NLOS conditions. Our approaches are validated with experiments using a millimeter wave ISAC proof of concept in a factory-like environment. The results show that target detection in NLOS is generally possible with ISAC.

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Pilot-Based SFO Estimation for Bistatic Integrated Sensing and Communication

Enabling bistatic radar sensing within the context of integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) for future sixth generation mobile networks demands strict synchronization accuracy, which is particularly challenging to be achieved with over-the-air synchronization. Existing algorithms handle time and frequency offsets adequately, but provide insufficiently accurate sampling frequency offset (SFO) estimates that result in degradation of obtained radar images in the form of signal-to-noise ratio loss and migration of range and Doppler shift. This article introduces an SFO estimation algorithm named tilt inference of time offset (TITO) for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)-based ISAC. Using available pilot subcarriers, TITO obtains channel impulse response estimates and extracts information on the SFO-induced delay migration to a dominant reference path with constant range, Doppler shift, and angle between transmit and receive ISAC nodes. TITO then adaptively selects the delay estimates that are only negligibly impaired by SFO-induced intersymbol interference, ultimately employing them to estimate the SFO. Assuming a scenario without a direct line-of-sight (LoS) between the aforementioned transmitting and receiving ISAC nodes, a system concept with a relay reflective intelligent surface (RIS) is used to create the aforementioned reference path is proposed. Besides a mathematical derivation of accuracy bounds, simulation and measurements at 26.2 GHz are presented to demonstrate TITO's superiority over existing methods in terms of SFO estimation accuracy and robustness.

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Bistatic OFDM-based ISAC with Over-the-Air Synchronization: System Concept and Performance Analysis

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has been defined as one goal for 6G mobile communication systems. In this context, this article introduces a bistatic ISAC system based on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). While the bistatic architecture brings advantages such as not demanding full duplex operation with respect to the monostatic one, the need for synchronizing transmitter and receiver is imposed. In this context, this article introuces a bistatic ISAC signal processing framework where an incoming OFDM-based ISAC signal undergoes over-the-air synchronization based on preamble symbols and pilots. Afterwards, bistatic radar processing is performed using either only pilot subcarriers or the full OFDM frame. The latter approach requires estimation of the originally transmitted frame based on communication processing and therefore error-free communication, which can be achieved via appropriate channel coding. The performance and limitations of the introduced system based on both aforementioned approaches are assessed via an analysis of the impact of residual synchronization mismatches and data decoding failures on both communication and radar performances. Finally, the performed analyses are validated by proof-of-concept measurement results.

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Bistatic OFDM-based Joint Radar-Communication: Synchronization, Data Communication and Sensing

This article introduces a bistatic joint radar-communication (RadCom) system based on orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). In this context, the adopted OFDM frame structure is described and system model encompassing time, frequency, and sampling synchronization mismatches between the transmitter and receiver of the bistatic system is outlined. Next, the signal processing approaches for synchronization and communication are discussed, and radar sensing processing approaches using either only pilots or a reconstructed OFDM frame based on the estimated receive communication data are presented. Finally, proof-of-concept measurement results are presented to validate the investigated system and a trade-off between frame size and the performance of the aforementioned processing steps is observed.

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Enabling Joint Radar-Communication Operation in Shift Register-Based PMCW Radars

This article introduces adaptations to the conventional frame structure in binary phase-modulated continuous wave (PMCW) radars with sequence generation via linear-feedbck shift registers and additional processing steps to enable joint radar-communication (RadCom) operation. In this context, a preamble structure based on pseudorandom binary sequences (PRBSs) that is compatible with existing synchronization algorithms is outlined, and the allocation of pilot PRBS blocks is discussed. Finally, results from proof-of-concept measurements are presented to illustrate the effects of the choice of system and signal parameters and validate the investigated PMCW-based RadCom system and synchronization strategy.

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Discrete-Fresnel Domain Channel Estimation in OCDM-based Radar Systems

In recent years, orthogonal chirp-division multiplexing (OCDM) has been increasingly considered as an alternative multicarrier scheme, e.g., to orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing, in digital communication applications. Among reasons for thar are its demonstrated superior performance resulting from its robustness to impairments such as frequency selectivity of channels and intersymbol interference. Furthermore, the so-called unbiased channel estimation in the discrete-Fresnel domain has also been investigated for both communication and sensing systems, however without considering the effects of frequency shifts. This article investigates the suitability of the aforementioned discrete-Fresnel domain channel estimation in OCDM-based radar systems as an alternative to the correlation-based processing previously adopted, e.g., in the radar-communication (RadCom) literature, which yields high sidelobe level depending on the symbols modulated onto the orthogonal subchirps. In this context, a mathematical formulation for the aforementioned channel estimation approach is introduced. Additionally, extensions to multi-user/multiple-input multiple-output and RadCom operations are proposed. Finally, the performance of the proposed schemes is analyzed, and the presented discussion is supported by simulation and measurement results. In summary, all proposed OCDM-based schemes yield comparable radar sensing performance to their orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing counterpart, while achieving improved peak-to-average power ratio and, in the RadCom case, communication performance.

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Orthogonal Chirp Division Multiplexing for Power Line Sensing via Time-Domain Reflectometry

In this study, a time-domain reflectometry (TDR) system based on a baseband version of the orthogonal chirp-division multiplexing (OCDM) scheme, which is relies on a modified discrete Fresnel transform (DFnT), is proposed for power line sensing. After a detailed description of the system model, a multiple access scheme that exploits the contolution theorem of the modified DFnT for enabling distributed reflectometric and transferometric sensing of the monitored power line. Considering typical European underground low-voltage and US overhead medium-voltage (MV) power distribution networks, range resolution and maximum unambiguous range for the measurements are assessed for the proposed scheme. Next, a comparison with multiple access schemes based on the Hermitian symmetric orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (HS-OFDM) discussed in a previous work is performed considering a Brazilian MV overhead scenario, being the number of measurements obtained over time, as well as signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) used as performance metrics. The attained results show that the proposed multiple access scheme results in the same range resolution as the others. Also, the highest number of measurements over time is obtained by the proposed scheme, which produces orthogonality among signals transmitted by different power line modems (PLMs) neither and time nor frequency domains, but rather in the Fresnel domain. Meanwhile, although its yielded SINR values are fair among the PLMs consisting the distributed sensing system, the proposed scheme is slightly outperformed by the HS-OFDM based on code-division multiple access and by the HS-OFDM based on frequency-division multiple access at some PLMs.

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HS-OFDM-based Time-Domain Reflectometry for Power Line Sensing: Characteristics and Limitations

This study discusses key characteristics and limitations of time-domain reflectometry (TDR) systems based on the Hermitian symmetric orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (HS-OFDM) scheme for power line sensing. In this sense, a system model with a power line modem injecting signals and capturing raising reflections for sensing a power distribution network is outlined. Next, pulse compression and channel estimation reflectogram processing approaches are carefully described and the effects of system parametrization and multiple access schemes on the HS-OFDM-based TDR system performance are addressed. Finally, numerical results covering a comparison between pulse compression and channel estimation, system limitations based on parametrization considering typical European underground low-voltage and US overhead medium-voltage (MV) scenarios and narrowband (NB) power line communication (PLC) regulatory constraints, and comparison among multiple access techniques in a Brazilian MV overhead scenario are presented for supporting the carried out discussion. Based on the attained results, it is shown that channel estimation outperforms the pulse compression in terms of computational complexity and sidelobe level. Also, it is shown that the NB-PLC frequency range provides fair range resolution and maximum unambiguous range values. Finally, it is seen that the use of the frequency-division multiple access multiple access schemes presents different signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) performance among different power line modems (PLMs) connected to a power distribution grid, while the use of time-division multiple access and code-division multiple access schemes results in fair SINR performance among the PLMs at the cost of obtaining less reflectograms over time due to time multiplexing and spreading processes, respectively.

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On the Suitability of PLC Pulses for Power Line Fault Sensing via Time-Domain Reflectometry

This work discusses the suitability of typical power line communication (PLC) pulses for fault sensing in power lines via pulse-compression time-domain reflectometry (TDR). For this purpose, we first carefully outline a TDR system operating over a power distribution network, discussing its limitations and ultimately resorting to the pulse compression procedure. Next, we present closed-form expressions for pulses and their autocorrelation functions of typical PLC modulation schemes, namely Hermitian symmetric orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (HS-OFDM), impulsive ultra-wideband (UWB), and chirp spread spectrum (CSS). Furthermore, different metrics are used on the provided expressions in order to evaluate the suitability of the considered PLC pulses for providing proper TDR measurements, i.e., \textit{reflectograms}, in terms of resolution, effectiveness of the pulse compression, distortion, and range. Considering the scenarios of European underground low-voltage and US overhead medium-voltage power distribution networks, we finally carry out a comparative numerical analysis among the considered PLC pulses in terms of the aforementioned metrics for frequency bands comprising narrowband- and broadband-PLC, with a highlight on compliance to regulatory constraints. Based on the achieved results, we show that the use of UWB pulses allows the obtaining of a larger number of reflectograms in a given time interval, while HS-OFDM and CSS pulses provide higher reflectogram quality and better resolution for a given occupied frequency bandwidth. Also, we show that NB-PLC pulses are suitable for most distribution network scenarios, being the use of BB-PLC left for cases where very fine resolutions are desired.

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