Question 1

1. How does weather affect the sensor?

Accepted Answer

In general, the radar sensor works very well in all weather conditions such as snow, rain, fog, smoke, dusty environments etc. However, the electromagnetic waves cannot penetrate through very dense rain. The range of the sensor will be reduced in extreme stormy weather.

Question 2

2. How do I measure true ground speed?

Accepted Answer

To measure the relative speed between the sensor and the ground, the sensor must be mounted at an optimized angle. The radar sensor measures the frequency shift of the radar waves as they reflect off the ground. If the sensor is pointed directly down at the ground, the Doppler shift might be too small to be detected. The angle ensures that the radar waves are more effectively interacting with the moving surface, resulting in a measurable Doppler shift. Thanks to its integrated inclination sensor, it detects its own pitch angle and outputs it to the control system. You can use this information to calculate the real velocity relative to the ground.

v_real = v_radar ÷ cos α

Question 3

3. Will multiple radar sensors in one installation be affected by crosstalk?

Accepted Answer

No, the radar sensors will not cross talk with each other. The sensor uses Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave technology, and the bandwidth of ifm’s radar sensor is 4GHz. Since the frequency is always changing between 60…64GHz (industrial application) or 77…81GHz (mobile application), it is impossible for the radar to cross talk.

Question 4

4. Does the R1D sensor have functional safety features?

Accepted Answer

No. The sensors are not rated for funtional safety.

Question 5

5. Can the sensor measure both forward and backward motion?

Accepted Answer

R1D2 ground speed sensor: FAQs