TIDUF00 November   2021

 

  1.   Description
  2.   Resources
  3.   Features
  4.   Applications
  5.   5
  6. 1System Description
    1. 1.1 Why Radar?
    2. 1.2 Key System Specifications
  7. 2System Overview
    1. 2.1 Block Diagram
      1. 2.1.1 Automated Parking Software Block Diagram
    2. 2.2 Highlighted Products
      1. 2.2.1 AWR1843AOP Single-Chip Radar Solution
      2. 2.2.2 mmWave SDK
    3. 2.3 System Design Considerations
      1. 2.3.1 Usage Case Geometry and Sensor Considerations
      2. 2.3.2 AWR1843AOP Antenna
      3. 2.3.3 Processing Chain
    4. 2.4 Chirp Configuration Profile
  8. 3Hardware, Software, Testing Requirements, and Test Results
    1. 3.1 Required Hardware and Software
      1. 3.1.1 Hardware
      2. 3.1.2 Software and GUI
    2. 3.2 Testing and Results
      1. 3.2.1 Test Setup
      2. 3.2.2 Test Results
        1. 3.2.2.1 Use Case – Vehicle, Bicycle, Pedestrian Detection
        2. 3.2.2.2 Use Case – Traffic Cone, Grocery Cart, Sign Pole, Pipe, Shrub
        3. 3.2.2.3 Use Case – Pedestrian Standing in Empty Parking Space
        4. 3.2.2.4 Use Case – Pedestrian Standing Next to Car
        5. 3.2.2.5 Use Case – Empty Parking Space
        6. 3.2.2.6 Use Case – Cross Traffic Alert
        7. 3.2.2.7 Use Case – Parking Block, Curb Detection
  9. 4Design Files
    1. 4.1 Design Database
    2. 4.2 Schematic, Assembly, and BOM
  10. 5Software Files
  11. 6Related Documentation
    1. 6.1 Trademarks

1.1 Why Radar?

Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radars allow the accurate measurement of distances and relative velocities of obstacles and other vehicles; therefore, radars are useful for autonomous vehicular applications (such as parking assist and lane change assist) and car safety applications (such as autonomous breaking and collision avoidance). An important advantage of radars over camera and light-detection-and-ranging (LIDAR)-based systems is that radars are relatively immune to environmental conditions (such as the effects of rain, dust, and smoke). Because FMCW radars transmit a specific signal (called a chirp) and process the reflections, they can work in either complete darkness or bright daylight (radars are not affected by glare). When compared with ultrasound, radars typically have a much longer range and much faster time of transit for their signals.

Additionally, radar sensors are easy to install, and provide accurate detections of several kinds of objects in any challenging environmental conditions such as rain, dust, smoke. They are multi-functional, as they can be used as blind-spot sensors in one mode and the configuration can be changed to work as a parking sensor in another. They enable detection in 3D space in azimuth and elevation plane, with a high-range resolution of less than 4 cm.

TIDEP-01026 uses a multi-modal configuration of the sensor. The first mode is configured to provide 3D location of objects at ultra-short range (0-10m) whereas the second mode is configured to provide 2D information of objects at short range (10-50m). This reference design can be used as a starting point to design a standalone sensor for a variety of automotive applications beyond automated parking.