Parameter estimation of weak space-based ADS-B signals using genetic algorithm

Space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) is an important emerging augmentation of existing ground-based ADS-B systems. In this paper, the problem of space-based ultra-long-range reception processing of ADS-B signals is described. We first introduce a header detection method for accurately determining the pulse position of a weak ADS-B signal. We designed a signal encoding method, shaping method, and fitness function. We then employed a genetic algorithm to perform high-precision frequency and phase estimations of the detected weak signal. The advantage of this algorithm is that it can simultaneously estimate the frequency and phase, meaning a direct coherent demodulation can be implemented. To address the computational complexity of the genetic algorithm, we improved the ratio algorithm for frequency estimation and raised the accuracy beyond that of the original ratio algorithm with only a slight increase in the computational complexity using relatively few sampling points.