Search for binary code sequences with low autocorrelation sidelobes by the evolutionary method

Abstract

Introduction: The parameters chosen for complex coded signals used in active radar systems of aircraft for detecting objects largelydetermines their qualitative characteristics and the possibility of covert operation. An important task in the design of such on-boardsystems is the formation of ensembles of pseudorandom-noise binary code sequences of a fixed length with predefined characteristics.Purpose: Search for PRN binary code sequences of a given length, optimal by the criterion of the minimum level of the sidelobes of theaperiodic autocorrelation function. Results: A procedure of search for binary code sequences with specified parameters based on theevolutionary approach is proposed. The minimum level of positive sidelobes of the autocorrelation function is used as a criterion forthe selection of code sequences. An additional restriction is imposed on the length of a substring of codes of the same character. Thepossibility of forming a representative array of sequences with the best ratio of the main peak of the aperiodic autocorrelation functionto its maximum positive sidelobe is shown on the example of 31-bit code sequences. An algorithm is proposed for generating a PRNseries of signals using the code sequences found. The Hamming distance is used as a measure of the difference between two binary codesequences in the series. The proposed approach is advantageous as compared to the well-known method of generating PRN signals basedon pseudorandom m-sequences. Practical relevance: The results obtained can be used in algorithms of airborne radar systems with ahigh range resolution to detect physical objects on the background of an underlying surface, for example, objects on the water surface.