Development of Low-Cost Single-Chip Automotive 4D Millimeter-Wave Radar

Traditional 3D millimeter-wave radars lack target height information, leading to identification failures in complex scenarios. Upgrading to 4D millimeter-wave radars enables four-dimensional information perception, enhancing obstacle detection and improving the safety of autonomous driving. Given the high cost-sensitivity of in-vehicle radar systems, single-chip 4D millimeter-wave radar solutions, despite technical challenges in imaging, are of great research value. This study focuses on developing single-chip 4D automotive millimeter-wave radar, covering system architecture design, antenna optimization, signal processing algorithm creation, and performance validation. The maximum measurement error is approximately ±0.2° for azimuth angles within the range of ±30° and around ±0.4° for elevation angles within the range of ±13°. Extensive road testing has demonstrated that the designed radar is capable of reliably measuring dynamic targets such as vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, while also accurately detecting static infrastructure like overpasses and traffic signs.