Development of an Integrated Communication and Sensing System Using Spread Spectrum and Photonics Technologies

Abstract

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern technology, integrating communication and sensing systems has become increasingly essential for a wide range of applications, from military and defense to autonomous vehicles and beyond. The integration offers a convergence of capabilities that enhances operational efficiency and provides adaptability in complex environments. In this paper, we develop, in simulation and experiment, an integrated communication and sensing system, exploring the cutting-edge utilization of spread spectrum and radio-over-fiber (RoF) photonic technologies. RoF technology inherits the benefits of optical fibers, which include low attenuation and longer reach distance compared to other media. First, we consider the integration of communication and sensing functions using a spread spectrum–binary phase-shift keying waveform. In this integrated system, the sensing function is performed using a radar system. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated in terms of the peak-to-sidelobe ratio of the radar correlator output and the bit error rate for the communication system. The results are obtained through extensive MATLAB simulations. Next, we consider the realization of the proposed integrated communication and sensing system using photonics technology. This phase commences with the utilization of specialized photonics-based software for extensive simulations at different fiber lengths, which is an essential foundational step toward the practical implementation of the proposed system using photonics. Lab experiments are also presented to validate the simulation results.