EuMW 2014: Radar target simulator eyes automotive market

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 characterisation of the chirp signals typical of automotive radar. The ARTS automotive radar target simulator supplements this test solution by adding realistic target simulation.

It 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.

The combination of the ARTS and the signal and spectrum analyser 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.

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 characterised 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 analyses 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.