Wireless technology company Metawave has included a micro doppler signature extraction artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to its automotive 77GHz radar platform, with an aim to advance the autonomous driving sector.

The inclusion has enabled Metawave’s WARLORD smart-radar platform to differentiate non-metallic objects, including pedestrians, cyclists, and road animals such as deer, squirrels, or coyotes, by evaluating their micro-motions.

The WARLORD platform uses Micro-Doppler Radar Signature and various other AI features to recognise non-metallic objects, which are difficult to spot through radar.

Micro-Doppler Radar can also be used to provide additional information about metallic objects such as cars, motorcycles or trucks, as well as identify different classes of vehicles.

Metawave chief technology officer and co-founder Dr Bernard Casse said: “When thinking about autonomous driving, we want to mimic two human fundamentals: perception and decision-making.

“When thinking about autonomous driving, we want to mimic two human fundamentals: perception and decision-making.”

“Metawave is building a superior radar ‘digital eye’ – possessing high-resolution 3D vision – and we’re also embedding decentralised intelligence, equipping the radar sensor with human-like interpretation of the world in order for the car to make good driving decisions.”

The company also noted that Micro-Doppler Radar has previously been used in the military for target recognition.

Various studies have also been conducted to use the radar in through-the-wall radar imaging,to classify small UAVs and identify human breathing patterns.

In addition, Metawave is set to demonstrate SABER brand of hybrid antennas at the Mobile World Congress to be held in Barcelona, Spain, later this month.

SABER high-gain antenna features extremely low sidelobes and is capable of emitting highly directive beam, which can be focused and steered in real-time over wide angles and with large bandwidths without causing or being susceptible to interference.