A 77 GHz Simulation Study of Roadway Infrastructure Radar Signatures for Smart Roads

With exponentially increasing interest in driver-less cars, much focus has been placed on various sensor technologies that the vehicles will be equipped with. At the core of these sensor technologies is 77 GHz automotive radar. Recent simulation studies of 77 GHz automotive radar corner cases have revealed that the existing roadway infrastructure will need to be updated for safer and more robust compatibility with fully autonomous vehicles. In this paper, we present a full-physics based simulation study of the radar signatures of road guardrails and road covering, construction steel plates at 77 GHz. Results from this study show that current road infrastructure has a high radar cross section (RCS) that can overwhelm radar sensors and render crucial targets such as pedestrians invisible while also possibly triggering false detection. Using an asymptotic, full-physics electromagnetics solver, we demonstrate two techniques that can significantly reduce the RCS of guardrails and construction steel plates. Using these techniques, simulation studies predict a 25dB and 15dB reduction in the RCS of guardrails and construction steel plates, respectively.