How Radar Technology is Fueling the Future

Radar technology is changing what is possible in all facets of our daily lives

From smart cities to connected living, it offers a safer, smarter, and improved lifestyle at an affordable cost that exceeds industry standards in convenience and security.

The democratization of radar technology in our everyday lives is becoming more of a reality. The limitless potential of radar, which was first discovered in the late 1800s, is being unlocked as the world’s top engineers continue to make new advances. The integration of radar technology is fueling a more powerful, efficient, and safer future for healthcare, automotive, mobility, smart home, security, and beyond.

But, let’s take a step back. What is radar and how does it work?

Radar stands for Radio Detection And Ranging using electromagnetic waves. Transmitters emit a specific radio wave signal to an object which then returns to the receiver, providing information on the object’s environment, location and speed.

Why Radar Technology?

Radar technology has the advantage of long-range detection as well as simultaneously performing accurate distance and velocity detection with the use of mmWave (millimeter wave radar) technology. The sensing technology used in mmWave uses small wavelengths in millimeter range to detect objects and provide information on velocity, range, and angle of surrounding objects. This technology achieves high-resolution presence and accuracy detection as well as the ability to operate without a line of vision. mmWave technology can also be processed with small form factor radar that has tiny antennas, eliminating the need for bulky components.

Because of the use of electromagnetic waves, radar technology works in any weather and environmental conditions including fog, heavy rain, pitch darkness, direct sunlight and in highly polluted areas. It is also completely ambient light independent and can function in zero light, expanding the possibilities for indoor use.

Radar also eliminates privacy concerns with the omission of cameras. Recent advancements make it possible to detect objects and people without filming them, making the technology easily adaptable and secure. This development means there are no privacy concerns while using radar for instances such as indoor detection in hospitals.

Now that we understand standard radar, what is imaging radar?

Up until now, most of the industrial radar was limited to horizontal vision due to the limited resources, so it could not fully and accurately visualize surroundings. With the help of groundbreaking discoveries, radar technology now has the capability for vertical vision in addition to horizontal, which generates a complete 3D space to visualize the entire area. This is imaging radar technology. Since radar also reads 1D velocity information in addition to 3D, 4D radar can also finally become a reality in the near future.

Imaging radar transmits electromagnetic waves to an area then uses radio wavelengths to capture surroundings that are then reflected back from the surface to the radar’s antenna. Contrary to popular belief, the term “imaging” radar does not originate from the camera sensor. Rather, a radar is classified as an imaging radar because of the more accurate detection levels. Imaging radar focuses on detection, perception, and a greater classification level by improving the strength of the radar sensing technology. Fusion technology combines the imaging radar and the camera sensor, working with an AI solution to produce a complete imaging radar solution. Imaging radar can also produce point clouds using existing automotive chipsets combined with innovative radar technology.

Radar technology is starting to gain popularity in the automotive industry, but what about other verticals?

Radar has unlimited potential to elevate everyday life far beyond autonomous driving. From smart traffic infrastructures to healthcare solutions that can detect a patient’s vital signs and movements for remote diagnosis, it can be used in all facets of everyday life. Here is how radar technology is transforming various industries.

Radar Can Elevate Our Everyday Lives

• In-cabin detection: Customized radar solutions now have the capability to reliably detect in-car passenger presence and location as well as all passengers’ vital signs including heartbeat and respiration rate, offering a new level of confidence in safety for autonomous driving. Radar that features a Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) takes in-cabin detection performance a step further by not only detecting and alerting the presence of a child left in a car in real-time, even when the car is shut down and locked, but it can also detect an occupant’s vital signs and send an alert if the radar detects any abnormalities. This can all be done without the use of cameras which eliminates privacy concerns.

• Traffic detection: Unreliable traffic alerts and inaccurate estimated travel times can be a frustration of the past. We now have access to smart traffic infrastructure solutions that create a safer, more coordinated, and smarter use of transportation networks to optimize traffic control, reduce pollution, and enhance road safety. Real-time traffic information collection technology integrates data and specific algorithms to improve traffic flow and to enhance safety on the road. Radar can also enforce speed limits of an area when integrated into intersections, highways, and side streets, completely replacing intrusive loops that only detect certain points.

• Advanced Driving: Automotive radar solutions can now meet a broad range of passenger and industrial vehicle needs for the safest and most advanced driving experience with Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) On-Demand. The ADAS On-Demand radar solution offers Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) when integrated with the brake system, as well as Forward Collision Warnings (FCW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and more, thereby reducing road fatalities by minimizing human error and preventing road accidents.

• Autonomous Driving: Radar technology offers the ultimate in autonomous driving safety solutions while overcoming the challenges that today’s automotive sensors face vulnerability under difficult weather conditions such as heavy rain or fog and questionable commercial viability due to high cost. Radar can aid in collision avoidance for autonomous driving by providing effective road planning and real-time driving assistance, creating the potential to drastically reduce the number of crashes and fatalities occurring on the roads today. It can be used to improve target detection and provide remarkable high-resolution detection beyond 300+ meters with a wide Field of View. Long and medium range detection relies on proven radar signal processing while radar imaging through 4D point cloud performs the short-range detection. This multi-mode detection concept allows for an optimal autonomous driving experience. By tracking objects in azimuth, elevation and velocity, radar, combined with camera and AI solution, provides high-resolution point clouds, longer detection range, greater accuracy and a more reliable object classification at an automotive grade.

Although radar can be seamlessly installed, the road to integration is not easy. Radar technology is still extremely difficult to engineer. A high level of customization, personalization and flexibility is needed to cater to each unique industry and to each customer. For example, in the automotive industry, different car makers need different form factors for their vehicles. Each car model may also require another layer of customization in order for the solution to perform at its optimal level.

Building the groundbreaking radar demands a talented team of engineers with years of experience in the industry. bitsensing delivers all aspects of radar solutions from designing antennas to signal processing, firmware and AI. We have a team with the right experience, dedication, and passion to build radar that creates safer smart cities and elevates connected living for all.

bitsensing is making significant progress towards our comprehensive mission to design radar solutions for all. We have spent years dedicated to strategically engineering advanced radar technology that can utilize existing top tier chipsets to offer a new level of excellence, reliability, and unmatched intelligence.

We know the future is radar. If you want to be a part of that future and are interested in partnering with us or would like to know more, please contact us.