Radio detection and ranging (radar) systems leverage the transmission and reception of radio waves to determine the distance, velocity, and angle of objects in their field of view. Radar has a rich, 75-year history and is an integral technology spanning applications in aerospace and defense, to industrial automation, security, navigation, vital signs monitoring, and beyond.
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) continues to be at the forefront of the radar systems revolution by leveraging an unparalleled level of industry expertise, as well as market-leading RF and microwave capabilities to help drive radar system capability and designs. Our extensive portfolio of products—from amplifiers, mixers, PLLs, integrated transmitters and receivers, and VCOs to converters, power, and radar modules—helps engineers confidently and rapidly deploy the highest performance radar solutions for applications that demand the most challenging features.
Advantages of ADI 24 GHz Radar Technology
- Best-in-class transmit phase noise resulting in greater sensor effective range and accuracy
- Multichannel architecture allows beamforming for angle resolution
- High signal chain integration simplifies design and reduces time to market
- Full signal chain solution eases part selection and combination
- Separate 24 GHz transmit and receive paths to provide flexibility in radar front-end spatial design

TinyRad: 24 GHz Multichannel Radar System on a Small Form Factor PCB
This video shows Analog Devices 24 GHz multichannel radar solution. We will discuss various applications that this small form factor PCB development system targets, the Analog Devices components used, and the radar system parameters achievable.
TinyRad 24 GHz Demonstration Platform
The EV-TINYRAD24G is a credit card sized complete demonstration platform for 24 GHz radar system including antenna, RF and digital signal processing circuitry, and software GUI. The platform uses frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radio signals and an integrated antenna array in a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) radar architecture. The combined antennas, similar to digital beamforming (DBF), allow the TinyRad module to detect the distance, speed, and angular position of multiple targets simultaneously.

High Performance Integrated 24 GHz FMCW Radar Transceiver Chipset for Auto and Industrial Sensor Applications
The ADF5901 (24 GHz radar transmitter IC), ADF5904(24 GHz radar, 4-channel receiver IC), and the ADF4159 (FMCW Ramping PLL IC) form the basis of the RF chipset, which together enable the ADI 24 GHz radar solution. In this article, we describe in detail what are the performance characteristics of these ICs and how they can be combined to enable the high performance, 24 GHz radar solution, which can be used in applications from aerospace and defense, to industrial automation, security, navigation, vital signs monitoring, and automotive radar.

ADI’s Radar Technology in Markets and Applications

Automotive
The vast majority of radar systems on the road today are based on 24 GHz discrete RF technology, including phase-locked loop, ramp generator, transmitter, receiver, and ADC. ADI continues to leverage its extensive automotive design expertise—and over 300 million automotive radar ICs shipped worldwide—to develop the next generation of ADAS and autonomous driving systems.

Industrial
ADI radar technology delivers object detection, object tracking, localization, and mapping and is found in forklifts, locomotives, AGVs, construction vehicles, agriculture applications, and robotics—ensuring safety for people, objects, and other assets.

Aerospace and Defense
ADI's comprehensive portfolio and custom development provides complete RF-to-bits solutions for a wide range of commercial and defense radar systems.

Smart Infrastructure
Advanced ADI radar technology is being used in smart infrastructure for applications like adaptive traffic control systems (ATCS), which can automatically monitor traffic and adjust traffic control signals in real time. Radar is also incorporated in occupancy detection for inside/outside buildings to enhance energy savings, security, and worker productivity, while helping save lives, by virtue of its ability to “see” in all environments, including thick smoke, in darkness, and even through walls.
Highlighted Radar Solutions
Associated Radar Components
Radar Evaluation Boards
Interactive Signal Chains

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