Mountable Radar System
Examples relating to mountable radar systems are described. An example radar system may include a housing structure with a first set and second set of radar units coupled to the housing structure. The first set of radar units may operate in a long range mode and may include four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degree increments. The second set of radar units may operate in a short range mode and may include four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degrees increments in between two radar units of the first set of radar units. In some implementations, radar units of the first set may include a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) array, a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission array, and a receiver array, and radar units of the second set may include a transmit array, and a receiver array.
1 . A radar system comprising:
a housing structure;
a first set of radar units coupled to the housing structure, wherein the first set of radar units comprises four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degree increments and wherein the first set of radar units operate in a long range mode; and
a second set of radar units coupled to the housing structure, wherein the second set of radar unit comprises four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degrees increments, wherein each radar unit of the second set of radar units is positioned between two radar units of the first set of radar units and wherein the second set of radar units operate in a short range mode.
2 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein the housing structure is configured to couple to a roof of a vehicle.
3 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein the housing structure is configured to couple to a roof of a vehicle such that one or more radar units of the second set of radar units have a radar beam directed at an angle pointed toward a ground surface.
4 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein a radar transmission power of the first set of radar units is greater than a radar transmission power of the second set of radar units.
5 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein one or more radar units of the first set of radar units comprise:
a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) array;
a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission array; and
a receiver array.
6 . The radar system of claim 5 , wherein the SAR array has a beam width of approximately 45 degrees, and the MIMO transmission array has a beam width of approximately 90 degrees.
7 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein one or more radar units of the second set of radar units comprise:
a transmit array; and
a receiver array.
8 . The radar system of claim 7 , wherein the transmit array is a linear array, and wherein the receiver array is coupled to a digital beam forming unit.
9 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein the housing structure is configured to couple to a roof of a vehicle such that a first radar unit of the second set of radar units has a respective broadside beam direction approximately at a forward direction of the vehicle.
10 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein the housing structure is configured to couple to a roof of a vehicle such that a first radar unit and a second radar unit of the first set of radar units have respective broadside beam directions approximately 45 degrees from a forward direction of the vehicle when the housing structure is coupled to the vehicle.
11 . The radar system of claim 1 , wherein respective radar units of the first set of radar units are coupled to the housing structure at 45 degrees, 135 degrees, 225 degrees, and 315 degrees, and
wherein respective radar units of the second set of radar units are coupled to the housing structure at 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees.
12 . A vehicle-mounted radar system comprising:
a housing structure coupled to a roof of a vehicle;
a first set of radar units coupled to the housing structure, wherein the first set of radar units comprises four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degree increments and wherein the first set of radar units operate in a long range mode; and
a second set of radar units coupled to the housing structure, wherein the second set of radar unit comprises four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degrees increments, wherein each radar unit of the second set of radar units is positioned between two radar units of the first set of radar units and wherein the second set of radar units operate in a short range mode.
13 . The vehicle-mounted radar system of claim 12 , wherein one or more radar units of the second set of radar units have a radar beam angle at a downward orientation.
14 . The vehicle-mounted radar system of claim 12 , wherein one or more radar units of the first set of radar units comprise:
a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) array;
a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission array; and
a receiver array.
15 . The vehicle-mounted radar system of claim 14 , wherein the SAR array has a beam width of approximately 45 degrees, and the MIMO transmission array has a beam width of approximately 90 degrees.
16 . The vehicle-mounted radar system of claim 12 , wherein one or more radar units of the second set of radar units comprise:
a transmit array; and
a receiver array.
17 . The vehicle-mounted radar system of claim 16 , wherein the transmit array is a single operation array, and wherein the receiver array is a digital beam receiver.
18 . The vehicle-mounted radar system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a power source, wherein the first set of radar units and the second set of radar units are both powered by the power source.
19 . A method of operating a radar system:
transmitting long range radar signals using a first set of radar units coupled to a housing structure, wherein the first set of radar units comprises four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degree increments; and
transmitting short range radar signals using a second set of radar units coupled to the housing structure, wherein the second set of radar units comprises four radar units with each respective radar unit mounted at approximately 90 degree increments, and wherein each radar unit of the second set of radar units is positioned between two radar units of the first set of radar units.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein transmitting long range signals using the first set of radar units comprises:
transmitting the long range signals using a SAR mode or a MIMO mode.