Dual Linearly Polarized 76-81 GHz Automotive Antenna System Concept for Street Condition Monitoring

Street condition monitoring (SCM) is a relatively new application that is deemed crucial to achieve the next level of safety in autonomous driving (AD). Currently, there are no radar sensors in the market that provide classification for all types of street conditions due to the high RCS-sensitivity requirements and the need for dedicated monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) channels. In this publication, a novel system concept is presented that integrates street condition monitoring into a radar system comprising two antenna systems: one looking at the bore-sight and the other towards the street. The supplementary dual linearly polarized antenna system is capable of detecting all types of streets and conditions with very high dynamic range and maximum sensitivity. Unique design exigencies such as gain, antenna polarization purity, and the elevation beam tilt needed for the detection of sensitive street returns at incidence angles feasible for dual polarization classification are presented.