Automotive sensor technology
All-round view with radar
Sensors are essential in the automotive industry in order to improve road traffic safety. The useful technology prevents accidents through warning signals and enables the use of automated safety functions. Only with complex sensors is it possible for vehicles to perceive the environment reliably. Radar is one of the key technologies here.
Bundled competence for driver assistance systems
In order to hold one’s ground as a medium-sized company among OEMs and large companies, it is important to maintain a good business network. In this respect, InnoSenT and HELLA form an ideally complementary, strategic partnership. It enables the two companies to jointly drive forward technological progress in the automotive market. Their vision: partially automated and fully autonomous driving functions for every vehicle class.
Over many years of collaboration, numerous innovative solutions have been developed that cars would be inconceivable doing away with any more. Currently, the business partners are working together on the fifth generation of radar systems. They impress with high resolution and bandwidths as well as complex signal processing for fast, detailed, and more precise recording of the driving environment.
A radar solution for every area – sensor technology from InnoSenT for more safety and comfort in automobiles!
360° radar detection
For 360° detection, individual sensors positioned at various positions on the vehicle work together. Their angle of vision and range are perfectly aligned with the areas to be monitored. The combination of eight integrated radar systems ensures a reliable all-round view.
24/77 GHz rear view
Integrated in the rear of the vehicle, radar systems with 24 and 77 GHz frequency monitor approaching vehicles. The driver primarily focuses on the road traffic in front of them. Only by quickly glancing in the rear-view or side mirrors and looking over their shoulder can they determine whether they can pass another vehicle. But often a brief moment of inattention or an unfavourable position (blind spot) is enough to cause risky situations. The radar systems installed in the rear of the vehicle give early warning of nearing vehicles via a visual or audible signal. They are used in lane change assistants and help protect passengers in the event of a rear-end collision or when they open the doors.
24/77 GHz front view
Radar sensors are also installed in the front and work as driver assistance systems, giving the driver the help of a second pair of eyes. For this purpose, the sensors continuously gather data on the traffic ahead. Precise distance and speed measurement play a major role here. Radar detects even far-away vehicles to determine whether the statutory minimum distance for accident prevention is being observed. Thanks to the intelligent collision warning systems and automatic adjustment functions, the distance always remains in the green range. They inform the driver of the danger of collision and warn them to be cautious.
77/79 GHz surround view
The 360° near-range detection utilises sensors in the 77/79 GHz frequency range. The technology shines not only at a distance but also does an excellent job recording the car’s immediate vicinity thanks its high resolution. These systems for the near range support the driver through the all-round monitoring of stationary and moving objects. In unclear situations or with blind spots, the technology provides us with additional safety. Radar-based assistance systems are a great help that drivers can rely on. Already today, they are indispensable for innovative valet parking and safely exiting the car. Near-range detection is also well-suited for active safety solutions.
Innovative radar technology in use
The InnoSenT radar systems offer maximum performance at cost-effective prices. Equipped with the most advanced radar technology, the company manufactures its products with the highest-possible quality and in line with automotive standard IATF 16949 in order to ensure its reliability. The sensors can be easily installed behind the plastic bumpers of the car so that they are invisible from the outside.
Valet parking and parking aid
Fully automatic parking without the driver’s intervention? Thanks to radar surround view, this is already a reality.
Narrow parking spaces, concrete posts, and increasingly large bodies make parking more difficult. Radar-based parking assistants give the driver the necessary safety to avoid unsightly damage to the car.
With valet parking, vehicles find their way to the parking space or garage on their own and park fully autonomously. The sensors detect the roadside until they determine a suitable parallel or perpendicular parking space. On the basis of the radar data, the parking assistant calculates the parking procedure and performs all required steering movements automatically. The radar systems precisely record the environment and manoeuvre the vehicle reliably into the parking space.
Distance warning and cruise control
In an emergency, the distance in road traffic will often decide the outcome of the situation. If the driver observes the minimum distance or more, they will have more time to react. Radar systems in the front of the vehicle continuously measure the distance from vehicles ahead. The driver receives data regarding the exact distance on the display in real time. If the minimum distance is exceeded, the on-board computer will warn them. Radar-based adaptive cruise control takes things one step further. This assistance system automatically triggers the brakes when the distance is too short in order to throttle speed and optimise the distance between vehicles.
Collision protection
To avoid accidents, the automotive industry utilises 77/79 GHz radar solutions to measure speed and distance. The data obtained this way serve important functions that prevent accidents and provide active protection to passengers. In this process, the technology not only continuously monitors traffic in front of and behind you, it also detects imminent collisions with adjacent vehicles.
As soon as the radar system recognises an impending crash, it forwards the information and initiates protective measures. Within fractions of a second, the systems react to the detected danger – faster than the driver can. This allows adaptive braking and even standstill (automatic emergency braking assistance in case of danger of collision). In order to reduce the risk of injury to passengers, radar sensors also provide data that causes safety belts to tighten.
Blind spot and lane monitoring
Despite their best efforts, it is difficult for drivers to keep an eye on every event in road traffic and reliably keep track of the car’s immediate environment. Especially at high speeds, we sometimes overlook other vehicles despite looking over our shoulder. Radar sensors make the blind spot more transparent by monitoring the side and rear area of the vehicle.
The technology records all lanes and warns the driver against a high-risk lane change. The radar-based lane change assistant displays passing and approaching vehicles in the adjacent lanes starting at round 30 km/h. They are displayed via an LED signal on the respective side mirror. If in such a case the driver switches on the turn indicator, the second warning level is activated. This warning may be visual (e.g. a red, illuminated triangle on the respective side mirror), audible, or haptic (e.g. vibrating steering wheel).
Cross traffic warning
For exiting the vehicle and leaving a parking space safely. In addition to blind spot detection and the lane change assistant, InnoSenT has also developed radar sensors that keep track of the immediate proximity. These serve to warn the driver if objects or persons are present – whether stationary or moving – in the vehicle’s immediate surroundings. Cross traffic in this area presents a major risk of accidents when you reverse out of a parking space or open a car door. In particular, if your view is obstructed by adjacent vehicles that are parking. The integrated sensors capture rear cross traffic during manoeuvres to leave a parking space and warn the driver when there is danger of a collision.
In addition, the sensors monitor the side areas in order to keep passengers safe as they exit the vehicle. Even after the ignition has been deactivated, the technology observes vehicles and bicycles and, in the event of a dangerous situation, warns passengers before they try to exit the vehicle or even locks the door automatically.
Sights on radar technology
The radar sensors from InnoSenT are always highly effective. They offer excellent performance regardless of external influences such as weather, dirt, temperatures, or lighting conditions.
Radar is an anonymous measuring and locating technology that detects the environment through electromagnetic waves. The technology is ideal for determining speeds, positions, and distances. Due to their physical properties, vehicles optimally reflect the signals transmitted by radar antennas and thus can be detected with particular ease.
The increase in traffic density, the desire for safe transport, and mobility trends such as autonomous driving are placing ever greater demands on driver assistance systems. In fractions of seconds, such a system must trigger safety measures such as emergency braking – and sometimes completely without the driver’s intervention. Conventional driver assistance systems with radar technology inform and warn the person behind the wheel about dangerous situations. More advanced systems automatically intervene in steering the vehicle and are the forerunners in fully automated transport.
InnoSenT’s innovative technology anticipates better and reacts faster than a person is capable of being. The products boast a high bandwidth and a very high radar resolution in order to precisely locate and differentiate between multiple objects. The detailed environmental detection generates extensive data volumes that are then evaluated and processed by the systems using intelligent algorithms.
As experts in the field of automotive radar technology, InnoSenT is always a step ahead of the competition and utilises findings from research & development for innovative customer solutions. At present, InnoSenT is actively working on optimising signal processing, facilitating the combination with other technologies, and increasing radar resolution.
