79 GHz UWB Imaging Radar Sensor
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | DENSO SALES SWEDEN AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 000 000 |
| Project duration | July 2015 - June 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme Electronic Components and Systems: |
Important results from the project
The main purpose of the 79 GHz imaging radar project was to show a antenna design concept that shall be mass producibility, i.e., cost, robustness, yield, and simulatanously offers a system bandwidth coverage of 5 GHz. Here it is noteworthy that the 79 GHz band has recently been allocated for automotive radar systems to facilitate higher resolution and less susceptibility to interference. This interference is typically given by other automotive radars. Other targets was to develop comlete 79 GHz radar systems (whole chain), e.g., RF-hardware, interfaces, signal processing, and HMI.
Expected long term effects
To achieve the stated requirements of UWB, mass producibility and smal size design the project has developed three unique prototypes. The developed antenna design achieved already in the first phase the required system bandwidth of 5 GHz. Prototype 2 and 3 covers the remaining wish list, e.g., facilitate smal size for easy mounting, flexible control of sophisticated radar waveforms and fine tuning of bandwidth coverage. Finally, note that the next generation 77/79 GHZ radar system from DENSO and Qamcom will rely on the drawn conclussions and findings made in this project.
Approach and implementation
Project was based on 5 different work packages where the main effort was given for developing prototype designs of the UWB antenna (76-81 GHZ). Improvements achieved for the prototypes are enhanced bandwidth coverage, compact design and faster interfaces. To conduct demonstrations and analysis we have developed both off- and on-line processing software. To facilitate accurate characterization and producibility, RF-chambers have been built. The final demonstrations showed the necessarity of using higher bandwidths for autonomous drive and level crossing monitoring.