FCC Allocates Broader Spectrum for In-Car Radar

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has expanded the broadcast spectrum set aside for radar used by cars to avoid collisions and enable adaptive cruise control systems.

The commission approved 1 gigahertz of spectrum in 1995 for that purpose. Today’s ruling expands the available bandwidth to 5 GHz. Carmakers and suppliers say the broader chunk of spectrum will allow greater accuracy and reliability for such features as blind-spot warning, automatic braking and pedestrian detection.

The FCC decision supports an agreement last year among 20 carmakers to standardize automatic braking systems in the U.S. by 2022. The bandwidth involves is different from the block of spectrum assigned to the auto industry in 1999 for short-range, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. Those features are still years from being deployed on a large scale.

The FCC ruling on radar also aligns available spectrum in the U.S. with the band allotted in Europe, which should accelerate deployment of radar-based safety features. Automatic braking systems alone have been projected to eliminate 1 million crashes per year.

The commission notes that the new allocated bandwidth will be shared with the aviation industry for aircraft wingtip radar and other airport systems designed to avoid mishaps when planes are taxiing at airports.