Texas Instruments has announced a new radar sensor designed to improve how advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) sense objects. The AWR2944 radar sensor improves ADAS’ ability to detect objects, monitor blind spots, and efficiently navigate turns and corners.

“Changing lanes and navigating tight corners present some of the most complex design challenges for our customers today,” said Yariv Raveh, manager for TI millimeter-wave radar. “To create a safer driving experience, driver assistance systems must quickly and accurately process massive amounts of data and clearly communicate with the driver.”

According to TI, the new sensor addresses new motor vehicle safety requirements from UN Regulation No. 79 and updated New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) standards and the need for automakers tokkkkkk improve steering systems to support advanced driver assistance and automated driving functions.

The 77-GHz AWR2944 radar sensor can help automakers is packaged in a small form factor – approximately 30% smaller compared to radar sensors today, according to TI. The sensor integrates a fourth transmitter to provide 33% higher resolution than existing radar sensors, enabling vehicles to detect obstacles more clearly and avoid collisions. Hardware supported by Doppler division multiple access (DDMA)-based signal processing improves the ability to sense oncoming vehicles at distances up to 40% farther away.

“Visibility around corners has historically been challenging for autonomous and semiautonomous vehicles. This challenge presents the opportunity to design high-quality, premium ADAS technology that helps enhance vehicle perception,” said Curt Moore, manager for Jacinto processors at TI. “For automated parking and driving, being able to see farther with devices like the AWR2944 sensor – and then seamlessly process that data with our Jacinto processors – leads to improved awareness and safety.”