Automobile Radar Signature Studies

One of the prime requisites for automobile radar systems is obstacle hazard evaluation, the extent needed being dependent upon the particular system application. Much of the information necessary for a radar system to assess the degree of hazard of a target must come from characteristics which can be measured by the radar itself. While the hazard evaluation capacity has not yet been developed for automobile radar systems, research to provide this capability is in progress.

Continuous wave (CW) scattering measurements have been made in a manner which is consistent with automobile radar operation. Various aspects of simple targets and of an automobile were measured in a microwave anechoic chamber. Both horizontal and vertical linear polarizations were transmitted and their co-linear and cross polarizations received.

These data have been used to confirm the existence of and to understand certain scattering mechanisms. They have also been subjected to analyses in order to determine the ability to discriminate among the various simple targets. It is demonstrated that even a simple analytical method shows discrimination capability among the targets tested. Other techniques have been used in attempting to discern important features of these targets.