Automotive Radar System Basics | Automotive Radar tutorial
This Automotive Radar tutorial covers Automotive Radar System basics. It mentions specifications and frequency bands used in automotive radar system.
There are different types of radar based on various applications of use, but their functionality or operation is same. Automotive radar is used in automotive applications specifically for car safety.
Let us understand basic operation of a radar. Typically in a radar there are two components viz. transmitter and receiver. Transmitter radiates EM waves towards target and receiver detects echo from the target. This received echo signal is only fractional of the transmitted signal. This received signal is amplified, downconverted and later processed to recover information i.e. range of target and size. Moreover direction of target can be determined based on arrival angle of echoed wave. Relative velocity of target is determined based on doppler shift of returned signal.
There are two types of radar configurations used in automotive radar applications viz. monostatic radar and bistatic radar. In Monostatic radar, same antenna is used for transmission and reception. The duplexer is used to provide isolation between transmitter and receiver parts. In Bistatic radar, two separate antennas are used for transmission and reception.
Automotive Radar System
Following table-1 mentions typical specifications of automotive radar.
| Specifications | Automotive Radar support |
|---|---|
| System type | Pulse |
| Band | 76 to 77 GHz |
| Emission Bandwidth (BW) | up to 500 MHz |
| Max. EIRP | up to 20 Watts |
| Average EIRP | < 10 mWatt |
| Antenna Beamwidth (MAX.) | 4 degree elevation, 15 degree azimuth |
Following table-2 mentions frequency bands used by various organizations for automotive radar applications.
| Organization | Automotive radar Frequency Bands |
|---|---|
| CEPT (Europe) | 76 to 77 GHz |
| ETSI (Europe) | 76 to 77 GHz |
| FCC (USA) | 46.7 to 46.9 GHz , 76 to 77 GHz |
| ITU | 60 t0 61 GHz, 76 to 77 GHz |
| MPT (JAPAN) | 60 t0 61 GHz, 76 to 77 GHz |
RADAR Tutorial RELATED LINKS
Refer following radar tutorial links which covers radar terminology, types, radar measurements, doppler radar, FMCW radar, radar bands, radar scope,
weather radar, radar range and resolution, ground radar etc.
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Radar Terminology
Radar Measurements
Doppler Radar
FMCW RADAR
RADAR BANDs
RADAR SCOPE
Weather Radar
Ground Penetrating Radar System
RADAR RANGE and RESOLUTION
Radar calculators
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