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27th May 2003

Innovative radar technology brings smart anti-collision systems within range of automobile makers

• New-generation technology uses low-cost, low-frequency radar, and fewer sensors

Cambridge, UK, 27th May 2003 --- Cambridge Consultants Ltd (CCL) announces a breakthrough in radar safety systems for automobiles, with the potential to make sophisticated reversing and anti-collision safety aids an affordable accessory for the mass market.

The design and development consultancy has solved major electronic challenges to allow it to use lower frequency - and lower cost - components than alternative radar reversing and anti-collision technology. The radar's field of view is also completely programmable, allowing a system to dynamically and intelligently adapt as the vehicle's steering wheels change direction.

Dubbed CCL-Softcar, the radar solves the performance and cost issues that have stalled progress in this area - heralding a new generation of smart anti-collision technology capable of meeting the demanding economic goals of the automotive industry.

"Building a radar for road use has been technically feasible for many years - the core issue is how to make one for a tiny fraction of the costs usually involved," says Gordon Oswald of Cambridge Consultants. "The design principles in this system draw on defence technology, but have been heavily re-engineered to work in a frequency band that is becoming commonplace for wireless consumer gadgets - providing the required performance in a form capable of meeting the aggressive cost targets of the high volume automotive arena."

CCL-Softcar is a pulsed radar system working in the 5.8 GHz band, rather than the 24 or 77 GHz frequencies of alternative approaches. Working at this lower frequency reduces the cost of the components required to build a system, and avoids the time and cost overhead which precision assembly of higher frequency equipment imposes. Just four radar modules and one electronic control unit (ECU) are required to provide 360° protection - further reducing the bill of materials compared with alternative approaches which can require two or more modules to be installed on every side of a vehicle.

The technical feat has been achieved without resorting to large directional antennas normally required to operate at the lower frequency, which would make it difficult to install systems in fenders/bumpers. The CCL-Softcar transmit/receive module measures less than 8 x 12cm (~3 x 5inch).

CCL's antenna technology provides a further major safety benefit. Instead of focusing on a limited field of view, the antennas are all broad beam, and are programmed in software to provide the desired horizontal and vertical coverage. By simply changing the mathematical 'filter' applied to echo reception, the field of view changes. This allows the radar to adapt in real-time as the steering wheels change direction: in the case of a rear view system for example, it provides smart feedback when backing into a space between automobiles.

The company has constructed a proof-of-concept CCL-Softcar to demonstrate the technology to automotive manufacturers. Rear-and side-view CCL-Softcar systems have ranges of 5 meters (16 feet) and an angular resolution of less than 2 degrees. Forward-looking radars have a range of 25 meters (81 feet).

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