Terahertz Radar Poised toโค Revolutionize Automotive Safety, Offering Lidar-Like Resolution โWithout the Cost
BOSTON – A newโ radar technology utilizing terahertzโ frequencies is emerging โas a potentialโฃ game-changer for โคautomotive safety, โฃpromising the high resolutionโข ofโค lidar systems without the associated expense and mechanical complexity. Developed by startup Teradar, the solid-state sensorโ generates detailed point clouds – similar โto โคlidar – by emitting and โขanalyzing terahertz waves.
Unlike traditional lidar, which relies on moving parts prone โto wear and tear, Teradar’s system is entirely solid-state. “It’s a sensor that [has] the โขsimplicity of radar and the resolution of lidar,”โข explains Teradar CEO โCarey. The โcompany is currently collaborating with five โขautomakers to explore integration possibilities,with the technology potentially serving as a replacement โor supplement to existing radar and lidarโ systems.
The advancement is fueled by recent โprogress in โขsilicon transistor technology, enabling higher frequency devices and improved circuit efficiency, โขoutput power, and receiver sensitivity. “These improvementsโฃ have led to โฃboosts in the efficiency of terahertz circuits, their output power, and the sensitivity of receivers,” โขnotes Ruonan Han, a professor of electrical engineering at MIT specializing in terahertz electronics.Improved chipโค packaging also plays a crucial role in efficiently transmitting the radiation.
However, challenges remain. Han cautions thatโค achieving the performance necessary for reliable self-driving, especially at longer distances, is “pretty challenging.” his lab โฃat MIT is currently focused on developing low-power terahertzโ sensors for robotics and drones, and has also spun โout Cambridge Terahertz, โขa startup focused on security applications leveraging terahertz’s ability toโค see โthrough materials.
Teradar also envisions โapplications beyond the automotive sector. While terahertz frequenciesโข don’t penetrate skin, the technology can differentiateโ between healthy and cancerous tissue, potentially aiding in melanoma detection.
When asked about โthe recent incident involving a Waymo self-driving car and a catโ in Sanโ Francisco,Carey โstated,”It โprobably woudl have โsaved the cat.”