White paper: Radar test requirements

Automotive radar overview

You are interested in the field of automotive radar technology and want to learn more about test requirements?

Automobiles are increasingly being equipped with radar sensors that support drivers in critical situations, helping to reduce the number of accidents. Radar makes it ­possible to quickly and precisely measure the radial velocity, range, azimuth angle and ­elevation angle of multiple objects. That is why the automobile industry is widely ­using this technology in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Automotive radar is used in many applications. Typically, blind spot detection (BSD) radars operate in the 24.05 GHz to 25.25 GHz range (radio resource allocation: ISM, RR 5.150, ITU references: WRC 19, AI1.13, Res. 238, resolves 2), while most automotive radars ­operate in the 76 GHz to 81 GHz range as a part of the radio location service.

The 76 GHz to 81 GHz frequency band is of major interest since:

  • Only automotive radar in the 76 GHz to 81 GHz range can claim protection from interference due to its regulatory status (final acts/outcomes of WRC-2015)
  • The sensor package is smaller
  • Radar chips are less expensive
  • More bandwidth is available (resulting in higher range resolution)
  • Measurements at 77 GHz give better Doppler resolution than at 24 GHz for the same signal transmit duration
  • More antenna space

For a system designer, all these new techniques play an important role. Next to the selection of the radar waveform, test and measurement accuracy are critical in the development and launch of a new radar system. New radar designs need to ensure that all hardware and software components work in the desired manner under all considered conditions. This creates specific measurement needs and tasks for the measurement equipment. A technical understanding of waveform design is fundament

To reduce design uncertainty, test solutions are required that deliver the performance, precision and insight to solve these advanced design challenges.

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