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Automotive Radar Tests with Target Simulator and FM CW Signal Analysis

28 November 2014 - Rohde & Schwarz is now selling the ARTS turnkey radar target simulator from ITS and miro-sys. When combined with the R&S FSW high-end signal and spectrum analyzer and its analysis option for FM CW chirp signals, the ARTS constitutes an innovative test solution for the development and production of automotive radar sensors.

Radar makes it possible to quickly and precisely measure the speed and distance of multiple objects, regardless of weather conditions. For this reason, the automobile industry is increasingly using this technology in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). In combination with the R&S FSW-K60C option for analyzing FM CW signals, the R&S FSW high-end signal and spectrum analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz automatically performs realtime characterization of the chirp signals typical of automotive radar. The ARTS automotive radar target simulator supplements this test solution by adding realistic target simulation.

The ARTS series allows users to simulate dynamic targets with variable distances, speeds and sizes for radar test scenarios. The digital target simulators work at the 77 GHz and 24 GHz frequencies with a bandwidth of 500 MHz. They are based on a digital concept and can be easily configured for various applications and sensor types. Depending on the configuration, up to four independent targets with different parameters can be displayed in realtime.

Ideal test combination for the development and production of radar sensors

The combination of the ARTS and the R&S FSW lets users capture all key parameters of the radar sensor with a single measurement. The data is evaluated automatically. This test solution offers major advantages in the areas of development, production, quality assurance and approval. In the past, users had to resort to static simulations, for example based on optical delay lines. However, this method represents only one or two static targets with distance, but without speed or angle.

When developing radar sensor chipsets, users can now use the new Rohde & Schwarz solution to simulate a realistic scenario in the lab. For example, it is possible to simulate vehicles with different moving profiles or stress tests in different environments. As a result, developers can verify the signal processing algorithms of the sensor at an early stage.

In production, it is therefore possible for the first time to perform series tests of radar sensors with a reasonable test depth. The simulator allows very compact test chambers to be created with test distances of less than one meter. This results in a space-saving setup that can be used to test 100 percent of the safety-relevant radar components on the production line instead of just performing random quality assurance tests.

In addition, users have the option to create their own test scenarios and have them played back as a test program by the target simulator. The relevant system parameters are available and can be saved during operation to meet the seamless mandatory documentation requirement of the automobile industry.

Analysis of complex radar signals with the R&S FSW

The R&S FSW allows developers of radar components to automatically measure their signals with an analysis bandwidth of up to 500 MHz. With the R&S FSW-K60C option for analyzing FM CW signals, chirp signals with linear frequency ramps and large bandwidths can be characterized according to key parameters such as chirp rate, chirp length and chirp rate deviation. The R&S FSW is the only instrument on the market to offer a resolution bandwidth of 50 MHz in sweep mode, addressing the requirements of the ETSI EN 302 264 1 standard for road transport and traffic telematics in the 77 GHz to 81 GHz band. The R&S FSW directly covers the 24 GHz frequency band widely used for automotive radar systems and analyzes signals at 77 GHz with external harmonic mixers.

The ARTS radar target simulator from ITS and miro-sys is available as a third-party product exclusively from Rohde & Schwarz.

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