Issue link: https://resources.system-analysis.cadence.com/i/1355089
mmWave Automotive Radar and Antenna System Development Using AWR Software 2 www.cadence.com/go/awr ADAS Technology ADAS is made possible through a network of sensors that perform specific safety functions. Manufacturers are currently implementing these systems based on vision sensor technology and radar systems operating at either 24 and/or 77GHz. Vision systems detect lane markings and process other visual road information, however, they are susceptible to inadequate performance due to precipitation, particularly snow and fog, as well as distance. On other the hand, long-range radar (LRR) supports multiple functions, comfortably handling distances between 30 and 200 meters, and short-range radar (SRR) can detect objects below 30-meter distances. While the 24GHz frequency band, which addresses SRR detection, is expected to be phased out of new vehicles by 2022, today it is commonly found in hybrid archi- tectures. Meanwhile, the 77GHz band (from 76-81GHz) supporting LRR is expected to provide both short- and long-range detection for all future automotive radars. Figure 1 provides details on short/medium- and long-range radar. Figure 1: Different ranges, fields-of-view (FOV), and functions for advanced driver assist systems Technical advantages of the 77GHz band include smaller antennas (one-third of the size of the current 24GHz ones), higher permitted transmit (TX) power, and, most importantly, wider available bandwidth, which enables higher object resolution. As a result, advances in radar modulation techniques, antenna beam steering, system architecture, and semiconductor technology are driving the rapid adoption of mmWave radar in future ADAS-enabled cars and trucks. To manage the adoption of these technologies, radar developers require RF-aware system design software that supports radar simulations with detailed analysis of RF front-end components, including nonlinear RF chains, advanced antenna design, and channel modeling. Co-simulation with circuit and electromagnetic (EM) analysis provides accurate representation of true system performance prior to building and testing costly radar prototypes. AWR software provides these capabilities, all within a platform that manages automotive radar product development—from initial architecture and modulation studies through the physical design of the antenna array and front-end electronics based on either III-V or silicon integrated circuit (IC) technologies. The AWR Design Environment platform integrates these critical radar simulation technologies while providing the necessary automation to assist the engineering team with the very complex task of managing the physical and electrical design data associated with ADAS electronics. ADAS support includes: f Design of waveforms, baseband signal processing, and parameter estimation for radar systems, with specific analyses for radar measurements along with comprehensive behavioral models for RF components and signal processing f Design of transceiver RF/microwave front-end with circuit-level analyses and modeling (distributed transmission lines and active and passive devices) to address PCB and monolithic microwave IC (MMIC)/RFIC design f Planar/3DEM analysis for characterizing the electrical behavior of passive structures, complex interconnects, and housings, as well as antennas and antenna arrays f The connection between simulation software and test and measurement instruments