Networked Radar Processing System for Unmanned Convoy Operations

Integrated Adaptive Applications (IAA), Inc., in collaboration with Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC, proposes a networked automotive radar processing system. The system utilizes multiple Delphis mid-range radar (MRR) units to enhance the capabilities of each individual MRR unit, while still maintaining the low-cost advantage. Specifically, by deploying multiple MRR units in a networked fashion, a forward-looking system, for example, can have a virtual array with an aperture length that is up to twice the front bumper length, making it possible to achieve an extremely fine azimuth angular resolution. The significantly improved azimuth discrimination capability allows for much improved object sizing and classification abilities, as well as for enhanced detection range. We further propose to devise a robust high-resolution direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation method and a self-calibration method. The proposed DOA estimation method can achieve further improved angular resolution while significantly suppressing the sidelobe levels. It works with few or even a single snapshot, and is robust against the challenging source-coherence problem, which causes many array processing algorithms in the literature to fail completely. The self-calibration method can refine and update the array calibration weights automatically without the requirement of any additional hardware or the need of interrupting the radar operation.