Improved Detection Techniques for New Millimeter Wave Automotive Radars

This paper presents novel detection and target identification techniques for a polarimetic J-band millimeter-wave automotive radars. Three major target categories are considered, and extensive experimental and numerical data have been generated to find unique features of different target types. The response of vehicles is experimentally studied to build scattering maps for different kinds of cars. The radar backscatter response level from road surfaces is investigated and possible applications such as lane detection and road condition recognition are discussed. Sample results for each target type is presented to illustrate the suggested detection techniques. A method for micro-Doppler spectrum measurements of a moving human body is suggested as a very useful and unique feature to detect pedestrians in traffic scenes.