Performance Evaluation of Automotive Radar in The Presence of Bumper with Multiple Paint Layers Using Bidirectional Loss Model

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a mathematical model to compute the bi-directional loss of an automotive radar in the presence of a bumper with multi-layered paint. The proposed model uses a physical optics (PO) based approximation for the reflective and dielectric losses. The model takes into account the shape of the bumper and compares it with a proprietary algorithm. The model is applied on a six-element microstrip array antenna placed behind a curved bumper, with and without the presence of multiple paint layers. The bidirectional loss, in the broad-side direction, as obtained from the model is 4.6 dB due to the presence of the bumper with a single paint layer and 8.8 dB when the number of paint layers is five.