How self-driving cars are adding new capabilities as they move from Layer 2 (L2) to L2+ and beyond. How automotive radar systems are designed, and what this means for processors and other components.

Radar (acronym for Radio Detection and Ranging) uses radio waves to detect objects in the environment. It allows determining the distance (known as range), angular position (bearing), and velocity.

Radar is cropping up everywhere in new car designs: sensing around the car to detect hazards and feed into decision making for braking, steering, and parking and in the cabin for driver and occupancy ...