Experimental Validation of 3D Printed GRIN Lens for mmWave Automotive Radar

This paper presents the experimental validation of a 3D-printed Gradient Index (GRIN) lens designed for automotive radar applications. Building on prior work that introduced the core lensing elements, this study utilizes a more cost-effective extrusion 3D printing method than the expensive stereolithography process. By employing a smaller unit cell design, simulation time was significantly reduced, enabling a global optimization routine. As a result, the half-power beam width (HPBW) was successfully increased from 50 deg to 139 deg by integrating the GRIN lens, demonstrating its potential to enhance radar performance.