High-Resolution Automotive Imaging Using MIMO Radar and Doppler Beam Sharpening

A highly detailed sensing of a vehicle's surrounding environment is a key requirement for the advancement of autonomous driving technology. While conventional automotive radar sensors remain robust under challenging weather conditions, poor cross-range resolution and high sidelobe levels present significant challenges. In this article, we propose an approach that combines multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) beamforming with Doppler beam sharpening. We demonstrate a significant improvement in terms of cross-range resolution and, importantly, nearly 20-dB sidelobe suppression compared to conventional MIMO processing. This approach is investigated in detail and validated through theoretical analysis, simulation, and experiment using data recorded on a moving vehicle. We demonstrate performance that is comparable to a high-resolution mechanically scanned radar using a commercially available MIMO sensor.</p

Simple generic ways to estimate radar performance and tolerable interference levels

A generic way of estimating the radar cross section of radar targets is introduced, which can be used to make simple estimates of radar performance. This approach is complemented by simple ways of approximating the detection performance of a well-designed radar and estimates of the resolution to which an operator can detect changes in the performance of a radar.</p

Analysis of MIMO-DBS Performance for Wide FOV Automotive Imaging

There is an increasing demand for detailed sensing of the region surrounding a vehicle in order to develop advanced autonomous driving technology that remains robust even under challenging weather conditions. Radar is capable of meeting propagation requirements but is traditionally limited by poor resolution and high sidelobes compared to optical techniques. In this paper we build on our previous work, which pairs traditional multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processing with Doppler beam sharpening (DBS). This combined MIMO-DBS approach significantly improves cross-range resolution while also reducing sidelobe levels. We provide detailed analysis of expected performance based on system parameters. We also propose an alternative approach to provide a wide field-of-view (FOV) even in the presence of Doppler ambiguities, where our previously published work suffered a reduced field-of-view below that of the underlying array at higher vehicle speeds. We provide experimental verification of the technique presented.</p