The GaN challenge: mastering OFDM radar under real PA nonlinearities
Modern multifunction and cognitive radar systems increasingly rely on broadband transmitters capable of waveform diversity to support Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC).
The scenario for this competition focuses on a wideband power amplifier design to operate across multiple carrier frequencies and support systems transmitting signals with bandwidths of up to 1 GHz. Such operation places stringent requirements on transmitter linearity, especially when high-PAPR OFDM waveforms are used for sensing.
A comprehensive dataset has been collected using the NI-Emerson Vector Signal Transceiver (VST) platform, to provide participants with a realistic and challenging setting scenario. The dataset includes real measured transmit and received baseband data from a GaN power amplifier, operated under broadband radar/communication waveform conditions such as:
- Signal Bandwidth (10 MHz, 20 MHz, 50 MHz, 100 MHz, 250 MHz, 500 MHz, 750 MHz, 1GHz)
- Sampling Rate Variable up to 2 GHz
- Subset of Central Frequency (perhaps we can match those given by the supplier in the datasheet)
The dataset can be downloaded here.
Challenge objectives
Participants must analyze the provided multi-carrier OFDM dataset and design a single adaptive mismatched filter/equalizer that
- Compensates for nonlinear distortions introduced by the broadband PA.
- Remains effective across multiple bandwidths and operational conditions.
- Maximizes radar detection performance (e.g. peak-to-sidelobe ratio, integrated sidelobe ratio) on the receiving end.
The resulting filter acts as a unified signal-conditioning stage, restoring radar processing gain despite PA-induced impairments such as AM/AM distortion, AM/PM distortion, memory effects, and per-subcarrier imbalances.
Teams can consist of up to 5 members and at least one member must be regularly registered as student to the conference before downloading the dataset. Data will be provided in a compressed archive protected by a password, which will be disclosed after the registration.
The archive also contains a document with the description of data format.
Each team must submit a presentation of no more of 15 slides where the proposed solutions and the results and figures are presented.
The submission deadline is 1st of August 2026 and the contributions must be sent to Prof. Alessio Balleri.
The competition technical committee will review the submitted presentations and select the finalists that should attend the conference and present their work during a dedicated special session.
The evaluation criteria are important as the rigor of the proposed solution, the selection of critical performance parameters, and the assessment of the receiver performance after the solution is implemented on the experimental data.
The winning team will be announced during the closing session of the EURAD conference and receive €1000 offered by EMERSON.
This Challenge is being supported by a team: Dries Peumans (Vrije Universiteit Brussels), Alessio Balleri (Cranfield University), Carmine Clemente (University of Strathclyde) and Raffaele Fiengo (Emerson)