On radar –
Radar in comparison to other sensor technologies for industrial applications
Sensors for commercial applications have booming in recent years. But also in industry, they are increasingly assisting with manufacturing, manoeuvring, and measuring. The sensors are a kind of human-made seventh sense. We use it, for instance, to make difficult-to-determine properties measurable. With sensors, we also harness physical processes and values that are imperceptible to us. Among other things, they are integrated into technical units to enable us to react to events and detect the environment.
The sensor technologies make smart homes and Industry 4.0 more efficient, safer, and more convenient. They are used for automation, control, monitoring, and interaction. Four different technologies most commonly used to position objects: radar, ultrasound, infrared, and laser. They utilise different measuring methods and therefore differ in terms of their functions and properties.
InnoSenT is specialised in the development and manufacture of radar sensors and systems. Starting with a door-opening sensor, the experts managed to make the technology’s benefits available for use in many other applications. Great strides are being made in further developing the measuring method and delivering new innovations. While radar was still too complex for simple applications a few years ago, it now makes sense to compare its use with that of other technologies for many different applications today.
It’s thus worth taking a closer look at this sensor technology. What advantages does radar’s properties boast? We’ll give you a quick overview:
- Radar detection is anonymous. The high-resolution sensors allow contour measurement without transmitting images.
- Recognise, distinguish, and track multiple targets. The range of functions depends on the dimensions measured, accuracy, resolution, and signal processing.
- Detection is contactless. Radar waves are not perceivable and penetrate different plastics. This enables radar to be integrated in a concealed manner behind a protective casing or in an existing product.
- Radar works reliably in challenging environments. Extreme temperatures, darkness, glare, bad weather, dust, vapour, noise, and vibrations don’t cause any problems.
- From near-range to far away – radar boasts great ranges. The developers achieve long ranges and optimise the coverage area according to the application through the antenna design.
- Comprehensive object information available. Depending on the modulation, the technology detects static and moving objects as well as people. In addition, radar provides data that enable objects to be positioned, such as speed, distance, direction of movement, and angular position.
- Radar is considered maintenance-free. This characteristic of radar stems from its insensitivity to pollution, dust, or other environmental influences. After a radar system is first oriented and installed, no regular maintenance is required.
Of course, these advantages are not all exclusively attributes of radar sensors: for instance, infrared works without contact, and lasers measure distances even over very long distances. Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses, and they essentially vary based on their operating principles:
| Radar | Ultrasound | Active infrared (laser) | Passive infrared (PIR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active transmission/reception procedure in the microwave GHz range | Active method in the non-audible sound range, distance information through triangulation | Active transmission/reception method in the non-visible light range | Purely passive process, detects the change of an integral thermal image of an environment over time |
The strength of radar as a tracking method is clearly its comprehensive data collection. By comparing the different technologies available to industry and business, it’s possible to make a rough determination as to which one is suitable for which application. However, this can vary greatly depending on individual requirements and the task at hand.
| Radar | Ultrasound | Active infrared (laser) | Passive infrared (PIR) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advantages | Speed information, 3D positioning, long range, suitable for all weather conditions, penetrates plastics | Affordable, distance information | Long range plus speed and distance information | Low power consumption, affordable |
| Disadvantages | High resolution requires high bandwidth, moderate costs | Requires contact with the medium of air, no speed information, short range, susceptible to interference | Complicated lens systems, complicated processes for angular resolution, high power consumption, high costs, sensitive to environmental influences | Exclusive presence detector, no distance or speed measurement, short range (< 10 m), susceptible to interference, does not respond to heat-insulating clothing, sensitive to light sources with high proportion of infrared |
| Areas of use | Automotive, security, smart home, traffic, robotics, safety | Automotive, fill level measurement, industry, safety | Automotive, medical technology, thickness measurement, safety | Temperature measurement, wireless data transmission, motion detector |
| Measurement parameters | Distance measurement, speed measurement, angle measurement, positioning in 3D space, detection of direction | Distance measurement, velocity measurement (Doppler effect), detection of direction of movement (Doppler effect) | Distance measurement, speed measurement, detection of direction of movement | Presence detection, motion detection, temperature measurement |
| Range | Up to 1000 m | Up to 8 m | Up to 3000 m | Up to 10 m |
| Dependency on weather | Suitable for all weather conditions | Susceptible to interference in the event of wind and temperature fluctuations | Suitable for all weather conditions, however, snow, fog, or rain can reduce the range | Susceptible to interference in fog or smoke, susceptible to interference at high temperatures |
| Ability to distinguish targets | Good
Distinction of targets according to distance, speed, and angle |
Bad
Distinction of targets only according to distance, not according to speed and angle |
Medium
Distinction of targets according to distance and angle, not according to speed |
No capability to distinguish targets |
Radar as an alternative for more complex detection tasks.
Now, the table represents our views as radar experts – and so despite our best efforts, it may not be entirely impartial. It shows the potential of radar sensors and highlights the categories in which radar stands out from alternatives.
In a nutshell, radar technology always impresses when used for applications being implemented in a challenging environment, requiring comprehensive object information, or entailing complex detection tasks.
In selecting the technology, however, it is important to note that radar’s scope of functions is not always needed. A cheaper or simple measurement technology may prove to be a good choice. Radar detection also reaches its limits with certain use cases that other sensor technologies could solve differently.
There is thus a trend to combine different sensor types. In this case, different measurement methods are used together in order to counterbalance each other’s advantages and disadvantages. Especially in the security sector, cameras and radars are frequently deployed together successfully, for instance. This enables the one technology’s disadvantages to be compensated with the advantages of the other and thus attain maximum efficiency and reliability.
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The demand for sensors is increasing due to trends such as digitalisation, automation in industry & logistics, smart homes & cities, and autonomous driving. But the development and integration of radar units is a complex topic, and the technical terms and functions raise many questions for users. Our radar experts have put together comprehensive information to help you get started in the world of radar.