NXP Semiconductors (NXP) has announced the release of the first version of a powerful radar signal processing algorithm, part of the newly launched Premium Radar SDK (PRSDK).
This system helps developers improve radar system performance and use NXP’s advanced software algorithms Tight coupling with its latest S32R4x radar processor family for increased safety and differentiated advantages.
NXP noted that the dedicated radar algorithm library (algorithm library) allows the rapid integration of proven algorithms into radar sensor applications, helping to speed up radar sensor development and reduce R&D investment.
Expected to be released in 2022, the initial evaluation version includes three algorithm packages with solutions for interference mitigation, optimization of MIMO waveforms, and enhanced angular resolution.
Radar sensors to extend coverage in extreme situations
NXP highlighted that radar use cases such as automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control are becoming standard in today’s cars. Local laws and regulations have increasingly stringent requirements for blind-spot detection, turning assistance, front and rear cross-traffic and people detection.
Each vehicle must be equipped with more radar nodes to form a 360-degree safety barrier. In addition, the demand for a safer and more comfortable driving experience continues to grow, thus accelerating the transition to the L2+ level, providing comfort characteristics close to L3 autonomous driving.
This in turn requires more efficient radar sensors to extend coverage in extreme situations, providing accurate environmental mapping and localization.
In addition, it is estimated that in about 5 years, the number of radar sensors in cars will be twice as many as today, with more than 90% of radar sensors operating in the same 77-79 GHz frequency band. With the growing concern about mutual interference between radars, taking measures to suppress them has become a top priority. At the same time, automakers are looking for ways to effectively improve sensor performance.
For this reason, carefully refined MIMO waveforms are critical to increase the resolution and coverage of radar sensors. These special modulation schemes allow more transmitters to operate simultaneously, by encoding the individual transmit antenna signals to ensure they can be distinguished at the receiver.
In addition, in order to support more accurate object discrimination and classification in use cases such as vulnerable road user detection or parking assist functions, both corner radar and front radar use require more High-resolution sensor.
Huanyu Gu, director of ADAS product marketing and business development at NXP Semiconductors, said that NXP expects the triple acceleration potential of automotive radar to continue in the next decade, with more cars equipped with radar sensors, sensors in each car The number of nodes will increase and the sensors deployed will be more efficient. This megatrend presents many challenges for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
Specifically, this entails achieving interference rejection, optimizing MIMO waveforms, and enhancing sensor resolution. The advanced algorithms of NXP’s Premium Radar SDK are designed to address all of these challenges, helping customers to optimally utilize the S32R4x radar processor hardware.
(Source image: NXP)
