Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM
Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM

System Innovations for Radar Technology

Project OMNICONNECT

3D object tracking and locating using 60 GHz radar

Fraunhofer IZM has developed a miniaturized MIMO radar system, integrated into an LED ceiling lamp, capable of recording and evaluating motion profiles and locating people and objects in a room.

Gapless 360° coverage is achieved by fusing the data from four radar modules. Motion profiles are formed by artificial intelligence algorithms. The radar system can detect more than 30 persons in rooms of up to 150 m² with an angular resolution of 12°. A passive transponder system was developed specifically for location tracking purposes.  

LED ceiling light with integrated MIMO radar system

Enabling self-determined living into old age increases the quality of life for elderly people. One prerequisite is that hazards are recognized early and assistance is provided promptly. This can extend to everyday concerns, such as theability to find misplaced items.

Financial and labor constraints mean that the required support services can only be provided with the help of technology. To aid its adoption, this technology should neither interfere with people‘s privacy nor be too visible in the room.

In the OMNICONNECT research project, Fraunhofer IZM and its project partners have developed a miniaturized radar system for locating and tracking people and objects indoors.

Realized innovations

  • 3D radar sensor concept with 360° coverage, fusing the data from four radar systems with a detection range of 10m per module at 4GHz bandwidth
  • Use of artificial intelligence to analyze movement patterns and spot anomalies 
  • Development of a concept for precise 3D location tracking by radar using passive transponders

Advantages of the radar system

  • Easy integration of the 3D sensor system into the application environment for a minimum-effort installation 
  • Ability to detect motion with multiple people tracked simultaneously in the covered area
  • Accurate identification of the detected objects with an angular resolution of 12°: More than 30 persons can be tracked separately in the room.
  • Location tracking of persons and objects in the room with a resolution of 6 cm in all directions
  • Covering rooms up to 150 m² Communication interface with common smart home systems

Radar application areas

  • Location and motion tracking of people and objects in domestic and industrial environments
  • Navigation tasks, such as landing assistance for unmanned aerial or marine vehicles
  • 3D location tracking for autonomous vehicles

The radar system is part of a universal radar platform developed by Fraunhofer IZM for the efficient realization of radar projects. With this ready-to-plug&play radar kit, 24, 60, and 79 GHz applications with ranges from 0.1 to 260 meters and angular resolutions of less than 5° are possible. The frequencies can be combined with single, phase array, and MIMO antenna designs. The boards are mounted via SMD (plated half holes) on conventional printed circuit boards.

© OFFIS e.V | Fraunhofer IZM
image - Aufbau der Deckenlampe aus Polyurethan mit vier Radarmodulen
© Fraunhofer IZM
Final assembly with integrated LEDs, four radar modules and interface board
 

© OFFIS e.V | Fraunhofer IZM

Download | Research Project OMNICONNECT

3D object tracking and locating using 60 GHz radar

 

© Fraunhofer IZM

Working Group

Radar Frontends & Modules

We focus on the optimized design and characterization of RF/millimeter-wave radar modules using the M3 approach (methods, models, measures).

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© Fraunhofer IZM | Volker Mai

Working Group

Assembly and Encapsulation

We research integration technologies for system-in-package products, focusing in particular on device assembly for highly integrated packages and encapsulation and coating processes based on polymeric materials.

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