A polarimetric 76 GHz radar-sensor for automotive applications

There is an increasing interest in millimeter-wave radar sensors for automotive applications, passenger-comfort traffic-safety will be the main distinctive feature for car manufacturers in markets. Radar systems at millimeter-wave frequencies allow small antennas with high resolution well into the front of a passenger car. Over and above radar sensors for automotive applications autonomous intelligent cruise control and collision avoidance radar open up a relevant volume market millimeter-wave technology. In this paper the concept of an automotive imaging radar will be The sensor is a fully polarimetric, coherent 76 GHz radar having an electronically obtained resolution based on a focal plane array concept. Using advanced GaAs-based circuits all the blocks necessary for the realization of the radar have been designed, assembled, and tested. the modules and the obtained results as well as the integration of the complete radar sensor will described. A sequence of radar images of traffic scenarios has been measured and processed with developed algorithms.