High-Resolution Augmented Multimodal Sensing of Distributed Radar Network

Abstract

Advancement toward fully autonomous systems requires enhanced sensing and perception, particularly a 360 degrees vision for safe maneuvering. One approach to achieving this is through a distributed network of radar sensors, operating in homogeneous or heterogeneous configurations, strategically positioned to provide increased coverage and visibility in otherwise blind regions. Such a multiperspective sensing network, complemented with multimodal signal processing, can significantly improve the angular resolution of the radar, delivering high-fidelity scene imagery essential for region classification and path planning. This study presents a methodology for multimodal and multiperspective sensing using heterogeneous radar sensors, utilizing Doppler beam sharpening (DBS) within multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radars to enhance the resolution and coverage. Traditional frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW)-MIMO radars, currently the most widely used configuration, are prone to Doppler aliasing, limiting the field of view (FoV) in DBS and MIMO-DBS processing. To address this limitation, the effective FoV in multiperspective image is extended to that provided by the radar's physical aperture. The proposed framework is validated using 77-GHz radar chipsets in both automotive and maritime conditions, with sensors mounted in front-looking, corner-looking, and side-looking orientations.