dSPACE expands its DARTS portfolio with a groundbreaking innovation: DARTS ARROW. The world's smallest fully-fledged radar target simulator takes functional testing of ADAS/AD to a whole new level and, thanks to its compact and robust design, is particularly suitable for use in end-of-line (EOL) and periodic technical inspection (PTI) applications. Dr. Andreas Himmler, Business Field Manager at dSPACE, talks about the "new kid on the block".
Why did dSPACE develop DARTS ARROW?
Dr. Andreas Himmler: The requirements for the validation of radar sensors and driver assistance systems are constantly increasing. In particular, new legal requirements and initiatives by the EU Commission for the regular testing of assistance systems make an efficient, precise, and practical test solution necessary – and meaningful.
Our aim with DARTS ARROW was to create a system that can be used easily and reliably both in production at the OEM – i.e., in end-of-line testing (EOL) – and in periodic technical inspections (PTI). Thanks to its compact and robust design, DARTS ARROW is ideally suited to the requirements of EOL and PTI. Its cost-effectiveness also makes it possible to use radar target simulators in places where this was previously not economically viable.
Does DARTS ARROW meet these requirements?
Dr. Andreas Himmler: Yes, absolutely. DARTS ARROW is specially designed to enable functional tests of radar sensors under realistic conditions. It simulates range, speed, and radar cross-section in dynamic scenarios and is ideal for end-of-line tests at OEMs and for PTI tests. Thanks to its compact design and robustness, it can be used directly in production or in test centers.
Another important point is the cost efficiency of the new DARTS and the seamless integration into dSPACE's existing hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and vehicle-in-the-loop (VIL) solutions. It therefore ideally complements our VERIDRIVE vehicle-in-the-loop solution.
How can DARTS ARROW be used for end-of-line and vehicle-in-the-loop tests?
Dr. Andreas Himmler: For end-of-line testing, DARTS ARROW offers a fast and reliable check of the radar-based assistance systems directly on the vehicle. This means that the safety-relevant assistance systems can be checked directly at the end of production, and the quality of the driver assistance systems can be ensured. In vehicle-in-the-loop tests, the system enables integration into complex test environments in which real driving situations are simulated under controlled conditions. This allows users to validate and optimize the sensors and assistance functions in a targeted manner. Integration into dSPACE's entire range of solutions for comprehensive environment simulation in vehicle-in-the-loop systems is crucial here.
What can the new DARTS ARROW do?
Dr. Andreas Himmler: DARTS ARROW is suitable for all commercially available radar sensors in the automotive sector: It covers a frequency range from 76 to 81 GHz and offers a customizable bandwidth of up to a real 5 GHz. It can simulate distances of up to 500 meters in precise increments and speeds of ±700 km/h. The device can be configured as monostatic or bistatic, and enables the real-time simulation of traffic scenarios. Thus allowing the functionality of safety-relevant driver assistance systems to be checked over the entire lifecycle.
Will DARTS ARROW replace other DARTS solutions?
Dr. Andreas Himmler: No, on the contrary. With DARTS ARROW, we are expanding our portfolio with a targeted solution for end-of-line and PTI applications. We deliberately focused on compactness, robustness of the system, and cost sensitivity.
The existing DARTS products continue to cover other specific requirements in more complex test environments or different frequency ranges. DARTS ARROW is a perfect addition that is particularly efficient and economical for certain applications, but does not replace existing products. In fact, we now offer our customers even more choices so that they can find the best system for their individual testing requirements.
Thank you for talking to us.
Product Profile
- Category: Radar Target Simulator (RTS)
- Fields of operation: VIL, EOL, PTI
- Frequency range: 76 – 81 GHz
- Bandwidth: up to 5 GHz (adaptable)
- Range: up to 500 m (< 7 cm steps)
- Speed: ±700 km/h.
- Front-end concept: Monostatic or bistatic
