Design of Microstrip Array Antenna for Vehicle Millimeter Wave Radar

Abstract

The design and construction of a microstrip array antenna especially intended for vehicle millimeter-wave radar applications in the 77–81 GHz frequency range is presented in this study. This study relies on earlier research on single-patch antennas to provide a full array design that satisfies the demanding performance requirements necessary for sophisticated car radar systems. The study carefully models and analyzes the antenna array using the High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) to get an azimuth angle of 90° within a 6 dB beamwidth and a pitch angle of 10° ± 1° within a 3 dB beamwidth. Achieving a gain of more than 13 dBi, keeping sidelobe levels below −15 dB, and guaranteeing isolation of more than 35 dB are all priorities in the design process. Precision and interference avoidance are crucial in high-resolution, short-range radar systems, and these factors are essential to the antenna’s operation. The array’s small form factor, along with factors like easy integration and economical production, make it an excellent choice for contemporary automobile radar applications. The research addresses the wider ramifications of this technology in vehicle safety and navigation in addition to diving into the technical issues of antenna design, such as the optimization of element spacing, array layout, and material selection. By exploring the limits of high-frequency antenna performance, this work advances the fields of autonomous cars and wireless communication technologies. The designed antenna array architecture is very adaptable, as shown by its possible applications ranging from point-to-point transmission and satellite communication to vehicle radar systems. The goal of this effort is to improve the capabilities of vehicle radar systems, which will lead to safer and more effective autonomous navigation solutions.