Time-Frequency Analysis of Waveform Diverse Designs

Waveform diversity desires to optimize the Radar waveform given the constraints and objectives of a particular task or scenario. Recent advances in electronics have significantly expanded the design space of waveforms. The resulting waveforms of various waveform diverse approaches possess complex structures which have temporal, spectral, and spatial extents. The utilization of optimization in many of these approaches results in complex signal structures that are not imagined a priori, but are instead the product of algorithms. Traditional waveform analysis using the frequency spectrum, autocorrelation, and beampatterns of waveforms provide the majority of metrics of interest. But as these new waveforms’ structure increases in complexity, and the constraints of their use tighten, further aspects of the waveform’s structure must be considered, especially the true occupancy of the waveforms in the transmission hyperspace. Time-Frequency analysis can be applied to these waveforms to better understand their behavior and to inform future design. These tools are especially useful for spectrally shaped random FM waveforms as well as spatially shaped spatial beams. Both linear and quadratic transforms are used to study the emissions in time, frequency, and space dimensions. Insight on waveform generation is observed and future design opportunities are identified.