New Rohde & Schwarz radome tester delivers fast, accurate and cost-effective production line measurements

Advanced driver assistance functions require automotive radar sensors. For design reasons, these are usually installed behind bumpers or emblems. As experience with the R&S QAR has shown, radome quality is strongly dependent on the transmission loss, reflectivity and homogeneity of the components under test.

The R&S QAR and R&S QAR50 use microwave imaging, which has numerous advantages compared to conventional, unfocused single-point measurements. Particularly in production, simple and reliable operation and short cycle times are crucial. The user-friendly interface of the R&S QAR50 simplifies measurements in the automotive radar frequency band – even for users without detailed RF knowledge. Numerous optimizations allow measurement times well below five seconds, significantly reducing cycle times in production.

The imaging method also provides information on whether the components under test are properly positioned. While single-point measurements only display the frequency response of reflectivity for a specific point, the tester also displays the spatial distribution of reflectivity. Tracking the point of maximum reflection provides information on component positioning. Since this method allows the transmit and receive antennas to be far apart without affecting the measurement results, the R&S QAR50 offers significantly more space for clamping and unclamping the components to be measured. The clearance height of around 100 cm between the antenna clusters minimizes the mechanical effort required to position the components. This eliminates the need for robot positioners and carriages, and the enclosures required for occupational safety can be significantly smaller.

The modular software concept allows the R&S QAR50 to be cost-effectively adapted to the specific requirements of the vehicle manufacturer. Depending on the software configuration, complete limit tests for transmission loss, transmission phase, homogeneity and reflectivity can be performed in the frequency and spatial domains. All software options can also be purchased later, ensuring the long-term usability of the R&S QAR50 in end-of-line (EOL) deployment.

The R&S QAR50 for measuring radomes and bumpers in production is now available from Rohde & Schwarz.

Automotive test solutions – Test it. Trust it.
As a leading worldwide provider of test and measurement software, instruments and systems, Rohde & Schwarz employs its technical expertise to develop innovative solutions for the entire automotive lifecycle from predevelopment to production. OEMs, tier 1s, chip suppliers and engineering service providers around the world rely on the company’s proven test solutions for automotive radar, connectivity, infotainment, high-performance computing and EMC compliance. With innovative solutions for radar tests in development, integration production, Rohde & Schwarz supports its customers as a reliable partner for the launch of next-generation ADAS and AD systems. The company’s many years of experience and expertise in wireless communications ensure robust connectivity conforming to all standards from 5G and C-V2X to UWB, Wi-Fi and GNSS. Rohde & Schwarz instruments enable the development and debugging of in-vehicle networks with leading-edge bus speeds as well as ECUs such as high-performance domain controllers, and help to eliminate EMC issues. Rohde & Schwarz also offers T&M equipment and custom turnkey test systems for carrying out EMI and EMS measurements on vehicles and vehicle components in line with all major CISPR, ISO and manufacturer-specific EMC standards. These systems and equipment support full vehicle antenna testing and wireless coexistence testing with the user’s own systems and instruments. The company also offers outstanding solutions at the component and board level tests during ECU production. Partners and customers around the world use these test solutions to ensure automotive components and systems function correctly, interact flawlessly and smoothly and communicate faultlessly with the outside world.