Israeli startup uses military technology to make 4D imaging radar to detect cars 500 meters away/pedestrians 200 meters away

 Israeli startup Israeli, which develops low-cost imaging radars for the automotive industry, has launched a groundbreaking phased array 4D imaging chip radar, according to foreign media reports. The company uses phased array antenna technology originally developed for F-35 fighter jets and air defense systems and applies it to the automotive industry to prevent traffic accidents.

(Image source: RFISee)

This all-weather, low-cost, high-resolution radar sensor can generate a 3D position and speed map of objects around the car in real time, and can detect cars 500 meters away and pedestrians 200 meters away with an angular resolution greater than 1 degree. The company's engineers adjusted the phased array antenna technology used in advanced military systems to manufacture this radar and reduce its price to the current price level of automotive sensors. RFISee said that its radar prototype is being evaluated by top automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Unlike many traditional new radars, RFISee's patented 4D imaging radar uses a powerful focused beam of patented phased array radar technology. The focused beams produced by dozens of transmitters can quickly scan the field of view, and the receiver ensures that the radar image is greatly improved with a better signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, compared with existing radars, the detection range of obstacles such as cars and pedestrians is 6 times wider. The competitive advantages of RFISee radar prototypes have been confirmed in extensive testing.

The radar is designed to prevent accidents that other existing radar systems cannot handle. For example, a car accident with an automated driving system activated occurred in Taiwan on June 1 this year. In the accident, a car collided directly with a large truck that was crossing two lanes. With RFISee's radar, trucks and other vehicles hundreds of meters away can be detected, allowing the driver to control the vehicle or automatically stop the car to prevent the above accident from happening.

Additionally, the company’s unique radar technology has been shown to be useful in other accident prevention scenarios, such as using its numerous capabilities to handle two-way traffic, detect multiple pedestrians, identify cyclists on the shoulder of the road, enable automatic emergency braking for trucks, and adaptive cruise control (ACC) on highways.

RFISee was founded in 2015 by software and radar imaging expert Nir Mor and CMOS RF chip expert Eran Socher, who serve as the company's chief technology officer and chief security officer, respectively. To date, RFISee has raised $2.75 million from Clear Future, Drive, NextGear and the Israel Innovation Authority. The company is also planning a first round (Series A) of financing to complete the research and development of its radar product line and provide radar samples to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and establish commercial partnerships by the end of 2021.

The market that RFISee focuses on is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years. According to industry research firm Yole Research, the global automotive radar market will reach $8.6 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 16% from 2015 to 2025.