FUJITSU TEN Ltd. has developed "automotive compact 77GHz three-dimensional electronic scan millimeter-wave radar" that is capable of detecting an object in three dimensions, including "elevation" range in addition to distance and azimuth range. While making further improvements, FUJITSU TEN will aim at delivering this product to automobile manufacturers from 2014. This product will be presented in a paper at the "19th ITS World Congress Vienna, Austria" (October 22 (Mon.) – 26 (Fri.), 2012) and will be on display in the attached exhibition.
In 1997, FUJITSU TEN succeeded in the world’s first(*1) practical application of 60GHz millimeter-wave radar for dump trucks. Since 2003, a wide variety of frontward, rearward, and front-sideward 77GHz millimeter-wave radars have been developed for passenger cars, and those have been delivered to many automobile manufacturers.
This developed product is for frontward detection usage. By sensing three dimensions including elevation range in addition to the conventional distance and azimuth range, the product can detect signs located above or falling objects over the road, etc. more reliably. That is, the product can identify obstacles on the road more reliably from a farther position. Through the advanced signal processing technology (jointly-developed with FUJITSU LABORATRIES LTD.(*2)) and the innovative design of antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves, FUJITSU TEN has realized the size fitting in the palm, as large as the size of its latest 2D electronic scan millimeter-wave radar. The product can be mounted in a wide range of automobiles from large-sized automobiles to small-sized automobiles.
In recent years, the automobile-mounted "pre-crash safety feature(*3)" designed to reduce the damage at the time of automobile collision has been moving to full-scale implementation. In Japan, for new heavy trucks to be produced after November 2014, depending on the gross weight, sequential introduction of the device that reduces damages by braking the car automatically will be mandatory. Also in the European Union (EU), the introduction of the device to new large-sized automobiles to be sold from the autumn of 2013 will be mandatory.
In the "pre-crash safety feature", this developed millimeter-wave radar is one of the important key devices that detect the object in front of the automobile. Therefore, FUJITSU TEN will make continuous improvements to further increase the accuracy, and contribute to the realization of a society without traffic accidents.
Image of 3D scan:
Features of Developed Product
1. Detection of subjects in 3D including elevation range
By use of the 3D scan including elevation range in addition to the distance and azimuth range, objects above and below are detectable more reliably. For example, since the height of the guide sign posted above over the expressway can be detected, more accurate identification of the object in front of the automobile becomes possible. Since the obstacles on the road can be identified more reliably from a farther position, the performance in high-speed area of pre-crash safety feature is improved.
2. Compact size
<Size: equal to the company's latest 2D electronic-scan-type product>
Through the advanced signal processing technology (jointly-developed with Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.) and the innovative antenna design, FUJITSU TEN has realized the palm-sized 3D scan radar, as large as the size of our 2D electronic-scan-type millimeter-wave radar.
3. Simplified automobile mounting
The axis adjustment used to be conducted when mounting the millimeter-wave radar in the automobile factory can be simplified, which contributes to the productivity improvement.
What is Millimeter Wave Radar?
It measures the distance, angle, and relative speed from the automobile around the own automobile by transmitting and receiving radio waves. It is increasingly used as automobile-mounted radar that foresees the collision and reduces the collision damages by interlocking with alarm and braking system. It is less likely affected by bad weathers such as rain, fog, and snow, dust or dirt, and can detect the automobile stably.
Glossary
*1According to a FUJITSU TEN survey as of August 1997
*2FUJITSU LABORATORIES LTD. (Head Office: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, President and Representative Director: Tatsuo Tomita)
*3Pre-crash safety feature
General term for the system designed to reduce damages by the collision with a leading automobile, an obstacle, or a pedestrian, etc.
It calculates the distance and the position to the obstacle by sensors such as radar or a camera. When there is a high possibility of collision, the system alerts the driver that the danger is imminent by sound or by indication, and enhances the braking effect. When the collision is unavoidable, the system forcibly brakes the car, or tightens seat belts. What is controlled differs depending on each automobile manufacturer.