Automotive Radar Test Systems (DARTS)

dSPACE Automotive Radar Test Systems (DARTS) – Real‑Time Over‑the‑Air Validation for Automotive Radar

The dSPACE Automotive Radar Test Systems (DARTS) family delivers cutting‑edge test solutions for automotive radar sensors and next-generation ADAS and autonomous driving systems. DARTS enables precise, over-the-air (OTA) simulation of real-world radar reflections—accurately emulating distance, Doppler speed, and radar cross-section in real time.

What Is DARTS and Why It Matters

DARTS systems simulate radar targets within laboratory settings using fully reproducible scenarios that replicate road traffic conditions. This allows testing of radar sensors and corresponding vehicle/software applications across the entire value chain: chip production, R&D lab testing, vehicle homologation, end-of-line checks, and aftermarket validation.

Key advantages:

• Over-the-Air stimulation, eliminating the need to wire directly into the sensor hardware or know internal sensor interfaces.
• High precision in generating radar echoes with stable frequency, accurate Doppler shifts, and realistic target modeling—even pedestrian movement.
• Modularity and scalability, with compact RF front ends enabling dynamic angle and multi-target simulation.

Key Use Cases & Application Areas

Development & R&D

Engineers can use DARTS to validate behavior of radar sensors and ADAS software early in development. It supports scenarios without physical prototypes, allowing test automation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration with dSPACE SCALEXIO systems.

Production & End-of-Line Testing

DARTS is available in configurations optimized for production environments—mobile, desktop, or rack-mounted—facilitating high-speed, automated end-of-line tests.

Homologation & Aftermarket Validation

Test benches based on DARTS simulate realistic test cases for regulatory compliance (e.g., Euro NCAP scenarios) or aftermarket sensor deployments, saving cost and complexity.

Leading Product Variants

DARTS 9020‑S – Ultra‑Short Range Radar (0.6–6.8 m)

Designed to validate pedestrian AEB systems and blind‑spot detection. Features 3 GHz bandwidth, high accuracy (≈ 2 cm), supports indoor or in-cabin radar testing, such as child presence detection.

DARTS 9030‑MS – Full‑Range, Multi‑Target Simulation

Covers short-, mid-, and long-range radar scenarios such as ACC and multi-target testing in one device. Bandwidth up to 1 GHz, range up to approximately 984 m, speed ±700 km/h. Multi‑target option supports up to four independent echoes.

DARTS 9040‑GT / 9041‑G – Next‑Generation 4‑D Radar Support

Engineered for ultra-high bandwidth imaging radars (4‑D) with dynamic frequency hopping. Bandwidth reaches 5 GHz and covers full 77 GHz automotive band without retuning. Improves ghost‑echo suppression and target realism. Supports up to two independent echoes.

Core Technical Highlights

• Wide frequency support: 23–26 GHz, 57–64 GHz, and 75–81 GHz, depending on model.
• Real‑time echo simulation with full coherence across range, Doppler, and Radar Cross Section (RCS). Micro‑Doppler resolution as accurate as 0.007 km/h.
• Range and speed precision: minimal distance down to ~0.6 m; maximum up to ~300–1000 m; Doppler shifts support vehicles speeds ±500–700 km/h.
• Automation-friendly interface: JSON-RCP-based protocol supports standardized, scriptable test setups.

Benefits of Using DARTS

Integration with dSPACE Ecosystem

DARTS seamlessly integrates with dSPACE’s SCALEXIO real-time systems and Automotive Simulation Models (ASM). This allows users to simulate vehicle environments, digital twins, and full closed-loop ECU validation—all within the dSPACE toolchain.

Summary

The dSPACE DARTS product family brings highly accurate, modular, and automatable radar target simulation to automotive radar validation. From pedestrian detection to advanced 4‑D imaging systems, DARTS offers unmatched flexibility and realism across development, production, and certification phases.

Whether you’re engineering radar chips, validating sensor software, or certifying vehicles for driver assistance or autonomy, dSPACE’s DARTS systems deliver fast time‑to‑market with precision and reliability.

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