Encryptable Radar Data Lines for Scalable Centralized Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems for vehicles require significant computing power and memory, leading to increased costs, size, and power losses, especially when multiple sensors are used for advanced driver assistance and automated driving functions, and lack adequate security against interference.
Innovation Solution
A radar system with a central control unit and decentralized radar sensor heads, utilizing a data line with security units for encryption, decryption, and data signing, limiting processing to the sensor heads and enabling high-bandwidth data transmission to the central unit for further processing, allowing scalable and secure data handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If extensive internal data processing is performed in radar sensors, then object-level data can be provided for further analysis, but computing power and memory requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides processing tasks between radar sensor heads and a central control unit. Sensor heads perform only minimal processing (analog-to-digital conversion), while the central control unit handles extensive data processing and analysis. This segmentation allows high processing capability without requiring each sensor to have complex computing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
A central control unit acts as an intermediary between multiple radar sensor heads and the vehicle's data processing system. The central unit receives raw or minimally processed data from multiple sensors, performs comprehensive processing, and generates object-level information. This intermediary approach consolidates computing requirements in a centralized location rather than distributing complex processing to each sensor.
2Productivity
If microprocessor technology is used to increase computing power, then performance requirements can be met, but price, size, and power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments processing functions so that power-intensive operations are performed by a centralized control unit rather than by each individual radar sensor. This allows the radar sensors themselves to remain low-power devices with minimal processing capability, while the central unit handles all computationally intensive tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identical, simple radar sensor heads are deployed instead of using complex processors in each sensor. The sensors copy the same basic functionality (radar wave transmission and reception) across multiple units, while the central control unit processes data from all sensors. This approach trades the complexity of individual sensors for the quantity of sensors, reducing per-sensor power consumption.
3Productivity
If multiple radar sensors are deployed to achieve higher performance, then automated driving function performance improves, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the radar system into multiple simple sensor heads and a central processing unit. Each sensor head is a simple, low-cost unit that performs only basic radar functions. The central control unit handles all complex processing tasks for multiple sensors, allowing the system to scale to multiple sensors without proportionally increasing the complexity or cost of each individual sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple radar sensor inputs into a single central processing unit. Instead of having each sensor independently process and output results, all sensors feed their data to a centralized control unit that performs unified processing. This merging approach allows multiple sensors to work together efficiently without requiring each to be a complete, complex processing system.
4Device complexity
If data is transmitted from radar sensors to central control unit, then processing can be centralized, but data security and manipulation protection become critical requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The central control unit serves as a secure intermediary that receives, verifies, and processes data from multiple radar sensors. It implements security measures to protect against manipulation and ensures data integrity during transmission and processing. This centralized security approach protects the entire system without requiring complex security mechanisms in each individual sensor.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a radar system for a vehicle, comprising at least one central control unit for transmitting data and for processing received data, and at least one radar sensor head which is at a distance from the at least one central control unit and comprises at least one transmitting antenna for producing radar waves and at least one receiving antenna for receiving radar waves, as well as at least one data line between the at least one central control unit and the at least one radar sensor head, the at least one data line comprising at least one safeguarding unit for encrypting, decrypting and/or signing measuring data or control commands.