Magna Touts Next-Gen Radar

Magna International Inc. says its new Icon radar technology is faster, more accurate and can assess more objects than current automotive radar.

The technology is based on U.S. military-grade systems and is expected to eventually help enable fully autonomous vehicles. Magna is working with Austin, Tex.-based startup Uhnder Inc. to adapt the technology for use in automotive applications starting as early as next year.

Icon has a range of more than 300 meters (984 ft) and can detect and track nearly 100 times more objects—and individually classify them—than competing systems, according to Magna.

The company describes the system as working in four dimensions (distance, height, depth and speed), whereas traditional radar provides only a two-dimensional view. As a result, Icon can distinguish children, animals and bicyclists in relation to small stationary objects such as guard rails and road debris as well as large moving vehicles.

The advanced imaging capability pulls from 192 “virtual receivers” integrated into a single compact unit to help boost imaging resolution. Magna says the technology also is immune to interference and can be used in all weather and lighting conditions.

Watch a video about the technology here.