SDR Based FMCW RADAR for Advanced Automotive Applications

The advancement of autonomous driving and ADAS demands adaptive, accurate, and reliable sensing for safety and performance. FMCW radar, a key technology for object detection and ranging, faces limitations in flexibility, making it less adaptable for modern automotive applications requiring customized solutions. This article outlines the creation of Software Defined Radio (SDR) based FMCW radar systems with the formability of signal processing through software, making them modular along with their corresponding functionalities. By solving real-time processing and changing surrounding conditions, the SDR FMCW radar achieves a higher level of accuracy and adaptability. Tests prove the system’s accuracy for single target detection, as well as its ability to endure multi target tracking scenarios of over two targets. The results prove the integration of FMCW and SDR could pave the way for the next generation automotive sensing systems that will require higher levels of safety, efficiency, and functionality.