Echo generator tests radar sensors in 24GHz ISM band

Rohde & Schwarz has developed the new R&S AREG100A automotive radar echo generator in close cooperation with the automotive industry. It is a customised solution for use at the end of the production line and is easy to operate.

The echo generator reliably tests radar sensors in the 24GHz ISM band and in the E band at 77GHz or 79GHz. It simulates echoes of up to four artificial target objects at fixed distances. User-configurable Doppler offsets can optionally be applied to simulate radial movement of the objects.

Customers can specify desired fixed distances at the time of order.

The R&S AREG100A is a future-proof solution for testing advanced long-range and short-range radars. It supports bandwidths up to 4GHz in the E band and can simulate objects at a minimum distance of 4 m if the distance between the frontend and the DUT is 80cm.

With this approach, Rohde & Schwarz offers users test flexibility, from simple to complex.

Due to the dramatic rise in the number of vehicles equipped with radar-based safety-related driver assistance systems, the European regulatory authorities have stipulated mandatory tests in the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) to ensure safe operation and coexistence of automotive radar sensors, particularly with respect to autonomous driving.

For easy, convenient and cost-optimized execution of the tests specified in the RED standard ETSI EN 303396, the R&S AREG100A provides calibrated input and output ports in the IF band. The immunity of the sensors to interference signals can be checked with a connected RF signal generator.

The occupied bandwidth and spurious emissions can be measured easily and conveniently with a connected signal and spectrum analyser. And the total radiated power (equivalent isotropic radiated power, EIRP) can be determined very precisely using a connected power meter.

All that is needed is an RF signal generator up to 6GHz, a signal and spectrum analyser, and a power meter with 8 GHz bandwidth, since the millimeterwave hardware of the frontend can be used with all of these instruments.

No additional millimeterwave T&M equipment is needed to carry out the tests.

For high reproducibility of the described test solutions, Rohde & Schwarz offers an anechoic test chamber featuring exceptional compactness without compromising shielding attenuation.

The R&S AREG100A can be ordered now from Rohde & Schwarz. Purchasers benefit from a three-year warranty.