Assessment of OFDM Radar in Automotive and Joint Communication and Sensing Scenarios using Realistic Ray Tracing Simulations

Abstract:
In the context of autonomous driving and next-generation wireless communication, Joint Communication and Sensing (JCAS) with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals is emerging. This development can be significantly accelerated through realistic radar simulations. Therefore, we extended an advanced radar ray tracing simulator, currently deployed for Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) simulations, to encompass the OFDM signal model. To validate its functionality, we conducted simulations of both FMCW and OFDM signals in the same virtual scene using comparable digital radar twins. Given our previous demonstration that FMCW simulations closely resemble real-world measurements, the OFDM simulations can also be considered realistic. Consequently, the proposed method is a promising tool to enhance the development and to enable the optimization of radar-based OFDM applications.