Fujitsu Ten have developed a compact 77-GHz 3D electronic scan millimetre-wave radar unit capable to detect an object in three dimensions, including the elevation range, in addition to distance and azimuth range. The unit is designed to be installed at the front of vehicles for forward detection and warning systems. By sensing all three dimensions, the product can detect overhead signs or objects falling from above the road, and can reliably identify obstacles on the road from a newly extended distance. Through the use of advanced signal processing and an innovative antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves, the company have devised a hold-in-the-hand-sized unit, the same size as their latest 2D millimetre-wave radar unit.
The addition of the elevation (height) dimension to the distance (length) and azimuth (width) range allows objects that are above and below the vehicle to be more reliably detected, and from further away, which greatly improves the performance of pre-crash safety features in high-speed situations.
The unit measures the distance, angle, and relative speed of objects round the vehicle by transmitting and receiving radio waves, which is less likely affected by rain, fog, and snow, dust or dirt, than infrared or vision-based detection systems. The new 3D radar scanning unit can be mounted in a wide range of automobiles and will be available to manufacturers from 2014.
