Cambridge Consultants - Technology at the crossroads: new radar sensor allows pedestrians and traffic to coexist

Technology at the crossroads: new radar sensor allows pedestrians and traffic to coexist

Cambridge Consultants Ltd (CCL) will demonstrate a new intelligent activity sensor for vehicle and pedestrian detection at RTIC. Based on state-of-the-art ultra-wide band radar, the sensor's imaging capability allows it to provide a complete picture of traffic and pedestrian presence and movement at crossings or junctions – reducing the number of sensors required while providing more accurate information.

For example, a pedestrian crossing such as the UK's Puffin system might use Doppler radar to sense approaching vehicles, induction loops in the road to detect stationary traffic, and infrared to sense pedestrians. CCL's ultra-wide band or UWB radar provides all this information in one compact and easy-to-fit module, providing a complete image of activity with presence, direction and speed data on objects in its field of view.

"UWB radar sensing provides vehicle and pedestrian detection that is more effective for both authorities and road-users, and lower in cost," says Jon Garnsworthy, Head of Transport Systems at CCL.

The radar technology is a spin-off of CCL's work on anti-collision radar for automobiles, and operates in the unlicensed 5.8GHz frequency band using extremely low power signals. The sensor module prepared for RTIC is intended to demonstrate how compact such multi-function sensors can be made, and is available as a reference design for integration by traffic equipment OEMs. Alternatively, CCL can provide development services to adapt or interface the sensor for any specific equipment and sensing application.

CCL has been involved in developing and testing key technology platforms for automotive and road applications for many years. Its work ranges from the development of novel sensor technologies, through communications systems for the highway, to the development of advanced decision support systems for operators in complex real-time situations.

RTIC 2004 - the International Conference on Road Transport Information and Control - takes place at The IEE, Savoy Place, London, UK from 20-22 April 2004. More information can be accessed here.

Notes for editors:

What is UWB?
Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology, or 'Uweeba' as it is sometimes known, is a radio technology that transmits using a wide frequency range - typically over short distances. This wide bandwidth emission makes it very robust to interference, allowing much lower transmission power levels to be employed than today's 'narrow band' communications technologies such as GSM - it requires just a tiny fraction of the transmission power of a mobile phone for example. The technology was designed originally for radar applications, but has great potential for high-datarate, short-range communications, an application currently being standardised by the IEEE. CCL has employed UWB design principles on imaging and ID applications for around 20 years.

Cambridge Consultants Limited (CCL) designs and develops innovative new products, processes and systems. The organisation enables clients to turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether launching first-to-market products, or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 250 engineers and scientists, CCL is able to offer solutions across a diverse range of industries including healthcare, telecommunications, industrial and consumer products, automotive and aerospace. Operating from purpose-built laboratories on the Cambridge Science Park, CCL works for multinationals and small companies alike.