- National Instruments announced the Vehicle Radar Test System (VRTS) to test radar technology from the R&D lab through high-volume production test and from individual radar sensors to integrated advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
- The VRTS combines NI’s mmWave front end technology, a PXI Vector Signal Transceiver (VST) and application-specific software to test 76–81 GHz radar technology.
- The VRTS delivers object simulation and radar measurement capabilities for autonomous driving technology testing.
- The VRTS is available through select NI Alliance Partners who provide system integration and support.
According to National Instruments, unlike traditional automotive radar simulators that are only capable of generating obstacles for functional behavior testing, the VRTS incorporates a 76-81 GHz vector signal generator / analyzer designed for the dynamic generation of obstacles and RF measurements.
PXI’s synchronization capabilities combined with the use of LabVIEW enable radar sensors to be simulated in different environments: GNSS, radar, cameras and even lidar.
NI will distribute the VRTS through specialized partners such as Hirain Technologies, Konrad Technologies, Linktron and Noffz Computer Technik. These partners will deliver customized radar testing software and systems to meet the specific needs of customers.
The VRTS can operate in a basic configuration that can emulate two obstacles up to sophisticated configurations that can emulate four independent obstacles per PXI chassis. It offers the possibility of simulating the Doppler speed up to 250 km / h, minimum obstacle range of 4 m, object distance resolution down to 10 cm, support for multiple angles of arrival and variable radar cross sections. The VRTS provides object simulation capabilities and radar measurement functions.
The flexibility of the software allows to use the VRTS to simulate scenarios ranging from pedestrians walking across the street to lane change scenarios. This flexibility offers the possibility of adapting the system to the evolution of regulatory environments.
