Innovative MMW Scanning Antenna for Advanced Obstacle Detection in Railroad andAutomotive Collision Avoidance Systems

摘要

The innovative Spinning Grating (TM) Antenna developed as a result of thisproject is a low-cost millimeter wave (MMW) antenna that can be applied to collision avoidance systems for both railroads and automobiles. The antenna is unique in that it uses the optical phenomenon of diffraction to define and steer a beam of MMW energy. It is both low in cost and reliable, ideal features for the transportation market. In the rail industry, the focus of the project was on the application of the antenna to MMW sensors that can reliably detect the presence of an object in the path of a train resulting in action that can be taken to prevent a collision. In the automotive industry, MMW sensor systems used for collision warning functions and intelligence cruise control are already available for limited markets.