Methods for Testing Automotive Radar Interference (MeTARI)

This collaboration between Radar Reticence, Halmstad University, Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), and Dynamic Research Inc. (DRI) aims to develop and demonstrate the first harmonized method for testing automotive radar interference resilience.

Automotive radar is a cornerstone of modern Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving (AD). It enables critical functions such as adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and vulnerable road user protection. However, as the number of radar sensors per vehicle rapidly increases—projected to reach six to eight sensors per vehicle in the coming decade—the automotive frequency band (76-81 GHz) is becoming increasingly congested.

This rapid market penetration raises the risk of signal overlap and interference, which can degrade detection accuracy, raise the noise floor, and generate "ghost" objects. While individual vendors have developed fragmented mitigation techniques, there is currently a critical absence of a standardized test methodology for automotive radar interference. Without an applicable benchmark, regulators, OEMs, and suppliers cannot reliably validate performance or certify the interference resilience of vehicles.

The Project

The MeTARI project addresses this critical gap in the assurance of automotive radar systems. By uniting academic and industrial expertise across Sweden and the United States, the project will develop, specify, and demonstrate a vendor-agnostic methodology for quantifying radar performance under realistic interference conditions.

The focus lies on validating the system through a controlled, small-scale laboratory setting to ensure the method is reproducible and practical. By creating a standardized testing framework, the project fosters transparency, accelerates innovation, and supports the deployment of more robust ADAS/AD systems. Ultimately, solving the interference challenge will reduce phantom braking, prevent collisions, ensure smoother traffic flows, and lower congestion-related emissions.

 Key Deliverables

• Interference Mapping: A comprehensive report detailing current interference scenarios, future risks as radar density increases, and identified knowledge gaps.

• Method Development: A draft method description for testing radar systems, including Key Performance Indicator (KPI) definitions and reproducible interference emulation profiles.

• Lab Test Specifications: A complete specification package, including equipment lists, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and calibration protocols for controlled testing.

• Controlled Demonstration: A practical validation of the proposed method in a controlled lab/small-scale setting with a reported uncertainty analysis.

• Regulatory Engagement: Briefing documents and an open webinar to communicate findings to key safety bodies, including Euro NCAP and NHTSA.

• OEM Integration Guide: A roadmap and guidelines for integrating the developed method into OEM safety processes and future large-scale validation efforts.

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