- New-generation radars, essential for driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles, require appropriate test solutions.
- To meet these test requirements, Rohde & Schwarz has designed the R&S RadEsT (Radar Essential Tester) automotive radar target simulator, which the German company presented at the European Microwave Week trade show held in Paris from September 23 to 27, 2024.
The solution is designed to meet a wide range of test requirements throughout the radar sensor lifecycle, from system verification and reference design debugging phases, through software verification and functional laboratory testing, to vehicle-level production checks.
RadEsT, which is particularly well-suited to end-of-line testing by automotive suppliers, can also be used to test advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) functions.
The tester captures signals from radar sensors, modifies them and sends them back as simulated radar targets. Dynamic target simulation enables rapid adaptation to simulate fast-moving targets. This is essential for qualifying autonomous driving functions such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control (ACC).
The simulated target can be dynamically configured on the fly in terms of distance (2.5 m to 250 m), speed/doppler (0 to ±500 km/h) and attenuation/RCS (> 40 dB). [RCS: radar cross section]
The radar target simulator features 12 receive patch antennas and 12 transmit patch antennas with different polarizations. This enables targets to be simulated from any angular direction, without the need for mechanical movements. What’s more, its integrated detection mechanism adapts to the different polarizations of radar sensors.
The RadEsT also incorporates analysis capabilities. It can directly measure indicators linked to radar sensor quality, such as equivalent isotopic radiated power (EIRP) and occupied bandwidth.
Housed in a compact casing (186.5 mm × 138.6 mm × 275 mm) and weighing 3.2 kg, the tester can be integrated into a variety of test environments, and can also run on battery power (optional).
To ensure consistent performance over time, the tester is equipped with a self-check function that monitors its performance measurements, identifies any deviation or drift, and alerts users to any deviation or anomaly in the measurement process.
RadEsT has also been designed to reduce reflections and multipath effects. Small patch antennas combined with an absorber-coated surface provide an RF front-end with a very low radar cross-sectional area (RCS), suppressing close targets and potential multipath reflections.
In addition, the tester features compact shielding to create an interference-free RF environment.
RadEsT key features
- Frequency range
– Object simulation: 76.0 GHz to 81.0 GHz
– Power measurement: 24 GHz, 76.0 GHz to 81.0 GHz - Artificial objects
– Distance range: 2.5 m to 250 m
– Resolution: 0.04 m (typ.)
– Doppler range: 0 to ±500 km/h
– Resolution: 1 km/h
– Attenuation (RCS) >40 dB
– Resolution: 1 dB (typ.)
– System phase noise at maximum range: >-115 dBc
