Networked Radar Processing System for Unmanned Convoy Operations

Integrated Adaptive Applications (IAA), Inc., in collaboration with Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC, proposes to develop a networked automotive radar processing system to enhance the capabilities of each individual MRR unit, at the same time, maintain the low-cost advantage. In the Phase I effort, a network has been proposed using two Delphis mid-range radar (MRR) units. The network can quadruple the array aperture size and spatial degrees of freedom, compared to 1 MRR unit only. It has been shown by numerical examples that the azimuth angle resolution can be improved from 16 degrees to 1.2 degrees by using the proposed network, together with an iterative adaptive angle estimation approach. The objective of the Phase II program is to mature the 2-unit MRR network via hardware development, and to demonstrate their technical feasibility using both simulated and field collected data. First, a hardware/software mixed prototype system will be developed for fielded data collection and demonstration. Second, the 2-unit MRR network and the associated signal processing algorithms will be validated with both simulated and field collected data, and their benefits will be clearly demonstrated. Third, a clear path to real-time implementation of the proposed algorithms will be demonstrated.