Reliable Radar Sensors for Safe Vehicle Automation – Coexistance, Communication, and Contamination

Radar sensing and radar sensors have been researched at Halmstad University for decades now. It has always been pursued in close collaboration with the industry, and close to its application. In this presentation we will report on the two ongoing Vinnova FFI projects, RADCOM2 and QONSENSE. The RADCOM projects (RADCOM and RADCOM2) have investigated methods to reduce mutual interference among multiple and simultaneously running radars, and the possibility to use the radar signal for joint communication and sensing. In RADCOM2 a fundamental new radar method allowing for a very large number of orthogonal radar channels has been established. For automotive applications this means that full radar coexistence can be reached without any need for negotiations protocols, or synchronization, between vehicles. The method, that is currently patent pending, also lends itself for communication between radar sensors. The QONSENSE project addresses surface contamination challenges affecting sensor performance in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous drive (AD) technology in the automotive industry. The core issue is ensuring sensor reliability in various environments, which is crucial for road safety and sustainability per the mission of the FFI Safe Automated Driving subprogram. Aligned with the FFI roadmap, enhancing road safety and sustainable transport via safe, connected automated vehicles, this project aims to quantify the impact of sensor surface contamination on signal performance. This research will promote safer roads and vehicle use by preventing sensor malfunctions due to contamination. Beneficiaries include the automotive industry, facilitating earlier development of robust ADAS and AD systems in the design process, and broader society benefitting from improved road safety. Halmstad University as project coordinator offers expertise in radar target simulation, signal analysis, and advanced radar testing facilities/methods. Volvo Cars contributes industrial input and expertise in sensor technology, automotive engineering, wind tunnel testing methodologies, and test platforms.