Latest Radar Test System For Automotive Radar Sensors

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It tests radar sensors used in autonomously driving cars (AD) entirely over the air by simulating complex road scenarios and more

Radar technology is essential for autonomous driving as it ensures safety-critical features such as collision avoidance or emergency braking, for which radar sensors, chips and modules have to be thoroughly developed right from the development stage to production and service. However, an increase in the number of radar sensors in vehicles has happened since the installation of corner radars that can also monitor lateral moving objects. 

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Due to complex technology, current lab testing options get limited concerning over-the-air (OTA) tests and simulation of different driving scenarios, forcing ADAS testing over millions of kilometres on the road, which is time-consuming and expensive. 

Therefore, the new RTS solution, consisting of the R&S QAT100 and the R&S AREG800A, offers to:

• Generate multiple complex dynamic simulations
• Speed up the development cycle
• Shorten time to market the ADAS features
• Provide combined, coordinated user-friendly solution

In short, it brings roads to the labs. Now conduct testing on virtual roads without traversing several kilometres.

The solution is also:

• Highly scalable depending on the use case and applications
• Suitable for New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) testing 
• Capable of simulating moving objects in 360-degrees for both low and high-density road scenarios
• Capable of simulating multiple radars at the same time 

R&S QAT100

Known as the frontend of the RTS solution for electronically configuring the object direction, it consists of multiple transmit antennas to simulate lateral object moving towards a car’s direction, providing excellent resolution, high switching speed and high repeatability. Unlike traditional test systems that require the transmit antennas to be mechanically moved for signal detection coming from radar, the QAT100’s more than 100 transmit antenna move electronically without causing any wear and tear.  

Radars made from metal, which have reflective cross-sections. This subjects targets at the near end of the radar to those reflections. But the QAT100 has a surface that absorbs those reflections, reducing the sensor’s noise floor and suppressing close-range targets and potential multipath reflections

R&S AREG800A

Known as the backend, which generates dynamic echoes, the AREG800A fulfils the need to generate artificial objects during the R&D process with respect to dynamic distance, object size, radial velocity and angular direction. An instantaneous bandwidth of 4 GHz between 76 GHz and 81 GHz, allows it to cover the typical frequency range of current and future automotive radar sensors.

For test automation with industry-standard tools, the R&S RTS comes with a hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) interface conforming to the ASAM Open Simulation Interface specification. 

If you intend to perform a complete scenario testing, then go with the whole solution. But if you simply wish to test the angular distance of your radar solution, then QAT is enough. 

The R&S AREG800A and R&S QAT100 can now be ordered from Rohde & Schwarz.