A ViaSat company, US Monolithics, has developed an automotive radar “system-on-a-chip” in alliance with Smart Microwave Sensors of Braunschweig, Germany. To help improve driver safety with adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, blind zone visibility, stop-and-go speed regulation, and collision avoidance, the integrated microcircuit incorporates RF and digital control functions that simultaneously determine the position, speed, and direction of multiple objects. The new US Monolithics design, in contrast to other products, integrates radar front end functions onto a single microchip to reduce cost and improve performance in automotive radar collision avoidance systems.

Director of commercial markets for US Monolithics, Fred Wachter, declared: ”Luxury vehicle drivers have had the benefit of radar distance warning systems in their vehicles for some time. This next generation system-on-a-chip will help drive down costs and expand the addressable market by enabling vehicle manufacturers to offer drivers of mid and lower priced vehicles the same safety and warning systems.”

US Monolithics and a leader in 24 GHz narrowband, medium-range radar systems, Smartmicro, have begun demonstrations of the new automotive system-on-a-chip for Tier 1 automotive parts suppliers and vehicle manufacturers.
 ...