Power-efficient formulation of tandem-hopped radar and communications

A system for generating a composite radar and communication waveform, the system comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• generate a frequency modulated (FM) radar waveform;
• determine a communication signal;
• iteratively execute a shaping process against the FM radar waveform and the communication signal until a first stop criterion is satisfied to produce an initial composite radar and communication waveform having the communication signal embedded within at least a portion of the FM radar waveform;
• iteratively execute an enhancement process against the initial composite radar and communication waveform and the communication signal until a second stop criterion is satisfied to produce a final composite radar and communication waveform, wherein the final composite radar and communication waveform is a constant amplitude waveform, and wherein the communication signal is embedded within at least a portion of the final composite radar and communication waveform;
• a memory communicatively coupled to the at least one processor;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the final composite radar and communication waveform.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for generating a composite radar and communication waveform, the operations comprising:

• generating a frequency modulated (FM) radar waveform;
• determining a communication signal;
• iteratively executing a shaping process against the FM radar waveform and the communication signal until a first stop criterion is satisfied to produce an initial composite radar and communication waveform having the communication signal embedded therein, and wherein each iteration of the shaping process comprises:
• imposing a spectral shaping constraint on a spectrum of the initial composite radar and communication waveform;
• creating a notch in a portion of the spectrum of the initial composite radar and communication waveform;
• embedding the communication signal within the notch of the initial composite radar and communication waveform;
• and
• modifying at least one characteristic of the initial composite radar and communication waveform subsequent to embedding the communication signal within the notch of the initial composite radar and communication waveform;
• iteratively executing an enhancement process against the initial composite radar and communication waveform and the communication signal until a second stop criterion is satisfied to produce a final composite radar and communication waveform, wherein the final composite radar and communication waveform is a constant amplitude waveform having the communication signal embedded therein, and wherein each iteration of the enhancement process comprises:
• creating a notch in a portion of the spectrum of the final composite radar and communication waveform and embed the communication signal within the notch of the final composite radar and communication waveform;
• and
• modifying a characteristic of the final composite radar and communication waveform, the characteristic comprising one of a constant amplitude characteristic of the final composite radar and communication waveform and a pulsewidth characteristic of the final composite radar and communication waveform;
• transmitting the final composite radar and communication waveform;
• receiving echoes of the transmitted final composite radar and communication waveform;
• and
• performing radar detection operations based on the received echoes of the transmitted final composite radar and communication waveform.